The Pakistani government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will meet on January 16 to ease political tensions. The National Assembly (NA) Secretariat confirmed the meeting, which NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq will lead at the Parliament House, according to Dawn.
Political Tensions After Imran Khan’s Arrest
Imran Khan’s arrest last year deepened the rift between PTI and the government. The arrest sparked violent protests and harsh state actions. In response, Khan created a five-member committee to engage in talks, signaling a shift in PTI’s approach. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a team from the ruling coalition to facilitate discussions.
Previous Meetings Made Little Progress
The first meeting occurred on December 23, 2024, followed by another on January 2. However, neither yielded significant progress. According to Dawn, PTI’s leadership requested more meetings with Imran Khan to finalize their demands.
PTI Reiterates Commitment to Negotiations
PTI leader Asad Qaiser stressed the party’s sincerity in seeking resolutions. After meeting with Imran Khan on Sunday, the PTI team planned to present their demands to Speaker Sadiq on Monday.
Access to Imran Khan Arranged
Speaker Sadiq arranged a prison meeting between PTI delegates and Imran Khan after PTI complained about restricted access. Additionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur held a private session with Imran before joining the delegation.
PTI’s Core Demands
PTI has put forward two key demands:
- The immediate release of political prisoners.
- The formation of a judicial commission to investigate the crackdowns on May 9 and November 26.
Both demands remain the focus as the government and PTI prepare for the next round of talks.
