Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) negotiation team has received approval to meet its detained chairman, Imran Khan, at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. This much-anticipated meeting, scheduled for 2:30 PM, is seen as a significant breakthrough after prolonged delays. Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza confirmed the development, stating that the negotiation team would consult Khan on ongoing talks with the government.
Prominent figures in the delegation include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja, and SIC head Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
The meeting follows a telephonic exchange between Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Asad Qaiser. While Sadiq facilitated the communication, he emphasized that arranging the meeting was the government’s responsibility.
This consultation is crucial for PTI as it prepares to finalize its “charter of demands” during a third round of negotiations with the government. The talks have been stalled since January 2 due to the team’s inability to consult Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year.
PTI has demanded the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 riots and the November 26 protests, alongside the release of party workers and Khan. The party has set January 31 as the deadline for the talks, cautioning that further negotiations hinge on the acceptance of these demands.
SIC chief Raza warned that talks would likely collapse if a judicial commission was not formed during the next session. Echoing this stance, PTI legal head Barrister Gohar stated that the party would not proceed without Khan’s input.
Amid accusations of sabotaging the dialogue process, PTI has pointed fingers at PML-N leaders Maryam Nawaz and Khawaja Asif. However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif defended the negotiations, stressing the importance of allowing the meeting with Khan to ensure progress.
This pivotal development comes as PTI braces for its final attempts to negotiate a resolution before its stated deadline.
