Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee comprising members from all ruling parties to review the demands submitted by the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced PM’s aide on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, during a press conference on Thursday.
Accompanied by Senator Irfan Siddiqui, head of the government’s negotiation committee, Sanaullah briefed the media about the ongoing discussions between the PTI and government negotiation teams.
Earlier in the day, PTI presented its demands in writing, calling for investigations into the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, as well as the release of “political prisoners.”
The PTI’s ‘Charter of Demands,’ available with Geo News, warned that the party would cease negotiations if the government fails to establish two separate commissions to investigate these incidents.
The third meeting between the PTI and the government took place at the Parliament House under the leadership of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, where the demands were officially submitted.
Sanaullah confirmed that the committee would carefully review PTI’s demands and respond accordingly. “For now, I am presenting the initial opinion on the demands,” said Sanaullah, noting that PTI requested the release of its “political prisoners” and party founder Imran Khan.
Regarding PTI’s demand for a chief justice-led commission to investigate the violent protests on May 9, 2023, and the November 26, 2024, crackdown on party workers, Sanaullah mentioned that both matters were already under judicial review. “An inquiry cannot be reopened on issues already in court,” he said.
Sanaullah also refuted PTI’s claims that “hundreds of its workers were killed and went missing” following the November 26 crackdown on demonstrators in Islamabad’s D-Chowk area last year. “They could not even ascertain how many of their workers were missing or injured in two and a half months. If hundreds had gone missing, their families would have staged protests,” he added.
Moreover, Sanaullah highlighted that PTI did not provide any specific details about its “political prisoners” or missing workers. He also mentioned that the decision regarding the £190 million case against the PTI founder and his wife is expected on Friday.
PTI’s Demands
PTI has requested the formation of two commissions, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan or three Supreme Court judges nominated mutually by PTI and the government, to be established within seven days. The party emphasized that the proceedings should be open to the public and media.
PTI has called on the federal and provincial governments to support the granting of bail or suspension of sentences for political prisoners. The party committed to identifying those arrested following the events of May 9 and November 26, as well as those affected by other political events.
Overall, PTI outlined 22 key demands, including the formation of two inquiry commissions and the release of political activists arrested nationwide.
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