Government and PTI Third Round of Talks on January 16

Web Desk — The third round of talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to de-escalate political tensions is set for January 16 (Thursday).

A notice issued by the National Assembly (NA) Secretariat confirmed that NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq will preside over the meeting, scheduled to begin at 11:30 AM at Parliament House.

Relations between the PTI, led by its founder Imran Khan, and the government have significantly deteriorated in multiple cases since Imran’s incarceration last year. The political divide has been marked by protests, some of which turned violent amid state crackdowns.

In response to the unrest, Imran Khan formed a five-member committee tasked with engaging in dialogue with all stakeholders, signaling a shift in the party’s approach to parliamentary negotiations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reciprocated by forming a committee comprising ruling coalition members to facilitate talks.

The first meeting between the two sides was held on December 23, followed by a second round on January 2. However, significant progress has yet to be made, as the PTI leadership has consistently sought consultations with Imran Khan to finalize its list of demands.

Speaking to the media at Parliament House, PTI MNA Asad Qaiser reiterated the party’s commitment to sincere negotiations.

After meeting Imran Khan on Sunday, the PTI negotiation team was scheduled to meet Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to submit the party’s demands in writing. This meeting follows complaints from the PTI regarding limited access to their leader in jail. The meeting in prison was reportedly facilitated by Ayaz Sadiq.

Additionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur held a one-on-one meeting with Imran Khan before joining the delegation for discussions.

At the start of the negotiation process, the PTI presented two primary demands: the release of political prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the crackdowns on May 9 and November 26.

As both sides prepare for the upcoming session, the political landscape remains tense, with hopes that the dialogue may yield meaningful results.