The federal government and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq have expressed hope for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to return to negotiations after the fourth round of talks ended inconclusively due to PTI’s absence. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, speaking to the media, reiterated that the government’s negotiation team would remain intact and encouraged the opposition to find a pathway for dialogue, stressing that talks are the only way forward. PTI’s refusal to attend the scheduled talks stemmed from the government’s failure to form a judicial commission to probe key incidents, including the May 9 riots and the November 2024 Islamabad protest. The party had initially called off the dialogue on January 23 but later clarified that the process was only on hold.
The dialogue process, initiated in late December, has seen three rounds of discussions between the PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government. Despite presenting its written charter of demands, the PTI’s boycott of the fourth round has stalled progress on critical issues. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed disappointment over PTI’s absence, emphasizing the government’s readiness to address their demands during the negotiations. Dar underscored the importance of mutual engagement and revealed that the government had prepared a formal response to PTI’s demands, which would have been shared during the meeting.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah stated that PTI’s return to the table is inevitable, as dialogue remains the only viable path forward. Sanaullah hinted at the possibility of forming a parliamentary committee instead of a judicial commission, noting legal limitations on establishing such commissions for matters currently sub judice. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Senator Irfan Siddiqui also voiced the government’s commitment to keeping communication channels open, despite PTI’s apparent reluctance. Siddiqui criticized PTI for undermining the dialogue process it initiated and confirmed that the negotiation committee would stay intact until January 31.
The central issue of contention remains PTI’s demand for the formation of a judicial commission before the fourth session of negotiations. The government’s stance has been to address this demand during the meetings rather than bowing to external pressure or threats. As tensions persist, the government continues to stress its willingness to engage constructively, with a focus on maintaining political stability and addressing critical national concerns through dialogue.
Despite the setbacks, there is a collective call from the government’s negotiation team to resume discussions in the spirit of compromise and resolution. The prevailing ambiguity and strained relations underscore the urgent need for PTI to reconsider its stance and engage in constructive dialogue, as both sides aim to navigate the complex political landscape and address the nation’s pressing challenges.
