Islamabad, January 5, 2025: Negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appear to be heading toward a deadlock, as PTI has demanded the inclusion of actual decision-makers in the dialogue process to avoid any ambiguity in potential agreements.
After nearly two weeks of discussions, PTI leader and member of the negotiation committee, Asad Qaiser, called on the government to involve stakeholders with real decision-making authority. Without explicitly naming the establishment, he hinted that the party wants the inclusion of key power holders in the talks. “Decisions have to be made by those who brought this government to power,” Qaiser said, adding that PTI has given the government time to consult on this matter.
Qaiser also warned that if the government fails to ensure uninterrupted access for the PTI committee to the party’s chairman, Imran Khan, they would walk out of the negotiations.
PTI’s stance on involving actual decision-makers is not new. Prior to these talks, the party had repeatedly rejected the government’s offers for dialogue, stating that it preferred to negotiate directly with the establishment rather than the current administration.
Meanwhile, government committee spokesperson Irfan Siddiqui expressed concerns over the negotiations, stating that PTI had promised to share its demands in writing but had failed to do so, potentially jeopardizing the progress of the talks.
Asad Qaiser clarified that the PTI committee is merely playing the role of a facilitator and that any final decision on an agreement would be made by Imran Khan. He added that if the government does not facilitate meetings between PTI leaders and imprisoned party members, the opposition may disband its negotiating committee altogether.
The talks now hang in the balance as both sides struggle to find common ground amidst mounting tensions and unmet demands.
