Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s political advisor, announced on Thursday that after lengthy negotiations, the PTI had withdrawn its demand for return of its electoral mandate.
Sanaullah revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special committee to respond to the written demands submitted by the opposition. The committee will work closely with the government’s allied parties and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to ensure a comprehensive response to the PTI’s demands.
The third round of talks between the two sides took place on Thursday, during which the PTI delegation, led by senior leaders including Omar Ayub, formally presented its written demands.
One of the main demands raised by the PTI during these negotiations was the establishment of two commissions of inquiry: one to investigate the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, which led to nationwide unrest, and another to investigate incidents that occurred between November 24 and 24. November 27, 2024.
The request includes an investigation into the involvement of the police and the army in the arrest of Imran Khan and the violence that followed, as well as a review of CCTV footage linked to the events of May 9.
In a joint press briefing with Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Rana Sanaullah mentioned that the other important demand of the PTI revolved around political cases filed against the party’s leaders and supporters. The PTI sought access to detailed records of FIRs lodged against political activists, but the government claimed that no such details were provided by the PTI during the talks.
While the PTI had earlier insisted on returning its mandate through fresh elections, Rana Sanaullah confirmed that the opposition party had withdrawn from this demand, marking a change in stance.
He added that despite the withdrawal of the mandate request, the PTI’s stance on other issues, including commissions of inquiry, remained firm.
The PTI had also previously raised concerns over trumped-up “political accusations” against its members, a claim that led to further discussions on the issue.
In his presentation, Rana Sanaullah said the government had set up a committee that would work with the opposition to finalize a response, the outcome of which would be binding.
The formation of the committee came after the PTI submitted its written demands for the first time. This third round of negotiations was expected to resolve some of the critical issues that keep Pakistan in a prolonged political impasse.
Omar Ayub, PTI’s chief negotiator, also noted during the media interaction that the government was committed to providing a response within seven days.
He said the government had agreed to hold a meeting between PTI leaders and Imran Khan to take the discussions forward.
Ayub stressed that while the talks were ongoing, the PTI remained optimistic about resolving the country’s political crisis and returning to normalcy.
In addition to these developments, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser and other party members have expressed concerns over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly regarding destabilization of the region.
He argued that given the complex situation in the province, it was crucial to engage in dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to resolve these issues comprehensively.
Meanwhile, Mahmood Achakzai, a senior politician, called for national unity, calling on all institutions and political forces to align with the Constitution and work together to safeguard Pakistan’s future.
He stressed that the country could only be saved if everyone followed the principles laid out in the Constitution, and those who opposed it would be held accountable.
Talks between the government and the PTI aim to resolve the current political crisis, but so far no substantial progress has been made.
The government has indicated its willingness to take into account the opposition’s concerns, but the situation remains fluid with both sides awaiting further developments.