NA speaker to retain negotiation committee

ISLAMABAD:

With both sides formally walking away from the talks, NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has opted to keep the negotiation committee intact despite its dissolution by the government and PTI.

According to sources in the speaker’s office, while both sides have formally disbanded their respective committees, the National Assembly Secretariat has yet to issue an official notification.

The decision to keep the committee intact – which served as a faint hope for political rivals to dial down tensions – came despite earlier indications that the government was leaning toward scrapping it after PTI skipped the fourth round.

However, sources said the NA speaker remained steadfast in his commitment to the body.

Earlier on Friday, the ruling PML-N-led coalition pulled the plug on negotiations with the opposition after PTI rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to resume talks aimed at resolving the prolonged political and economic impasse.

The government’s move to end the dialogue came after PTI abruptly walked away from the table, tying further discussions to the formation of judicial commissions to probe the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, incidents.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, confirmed the development, lamenting PTI’s decision and noting that continued talks could have helped untangle thorny issues.