The fourth round of negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ended in a deadlock. PTI refused to participate in the meeting called by Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The session, planned at the Parliament House, aimed to address major disagreements between the two sides. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq personally reached out to PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Asad Qaiser, urging them to join the talks. “Issues can only be resolved at the negotiation table,” the Speaker emphasized during his conversation with the PTI leadership.
However, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan rejected the Speaker’s invitation. He accused the government of failing to honor its commitments. “Seven days have passed, and the demand for a judicial commission remains unmet. This is not just for a photo session. From the beginning, we have said this is a serious issue,” he said. He insisted that PTI would not return to talks until the government took concrete steps.
The government’s negotiation committee spokesperson, Irfan Siddiqui, expressed disappointment at PTI’s refusal. “If PTI representatives choose not to attend, we will submit a written response to the Speaker,” Siddiqui stated. He reminded that the agreed timeline of seven days ends tomorrow. “Whether they attend or not is their choice, but we will not plead with anyone,” he added.
The negotiations between the government and PTI began in December when Speaker Ayaz Sadiq extended an olive branch to the party. The first meeting was held on December 23, followed by a second on January 2. In the third meeting on January 16, PTI submitted a charter of demands. These included forming a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents.
The government has accused PTI of breaching the agreed timeline for dialogue. On the other hand, PTI has argued that the government’s inaction has made the negotiations meaningless. With both sides holding firm positions, the political stalemate remains unresolved.
