ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The fourth round of negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hit an impasse as PTI refused to participate in the meeting called by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The session, scheduled to take place at the Parliament House, was aimed at resolving key disagreements between the two sides.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had reached out to Opposition Leader Omar Ayub and PTI leader Asad Qaiser, urging them to attend the meeting to address the stalemate through dialogue. “Issues can only be resolved at the negotiation table,” said the Speaker during his conversation with PTI leadership.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan rejected the invitation, criticizing the government for failing to fulfill its commitments within the agreed timeframe. “Seven days have passed, and the demand for a judicial commission has not been met. This is not a matter for a mere photo session. We made it clear from day one that this is a serious issue,” he stated, reiterating that PTI would not participate unless concrete steps were taken by the government.
The government negotiation committee’s spokesperson, Irfan Siddiqui, expressed disappointment over PTI’s refusal to attend. He stated, “If PTI representatives choose not to participate, we will submit a written response to the Speaker. They agreed on a seven-day timeline, which concludes tomorrow. Whether they attend or not is their choice, but we will not plead with anyone.”
The negotiations began in December when Speaker Ayaz Sadiq extended an olive branch to PTI. The first meeting was held on December 23, followed by a second round on January 2. In the third meeting on January 16, PTI presented a charter of demands, including the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9 and November 26.
The government accuses PTI of breaching the agreed timeline, while PTI insists that the lack of action on its demands has rendered the talks meaningless. As the political deadlock continues, the path to a resolution remains uncertain.