RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reiterated on Monday its demands for a judicial inquiry into May 9, 2023 violence and the crackdown on the party protesters on November 26, as well as release of its leaders and workers, including the party founder Imran Khan.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadqi summoned an in-camera meeting of the negotiating committees of the government and the PTI on January 2, to build on their maiden meeting on December 23. The PTI is expected to present its demands to government in writing.
The development came as PTI founder refused to budge on his stance, saying that he would never strike a deal on the advice of either the ‘establishment’ or any foreign power. He also repeated his party’s demand for a judicial investigation into the May 9 and November 26 incidents.
Imran’s statement came out through his sister, Aleema Khan, who spoke to the media outside Adiala Jail after meeting her brother. She quoted Imran as saying that why would he strike a deal, when he was fighting the cases against him.
“Imran Khan has said that he will not make a deal even on the advice of the establishment or any other country,” Aleema Khan told the media. “He demands a judicial commission on the May 9 and November 26 protests. He refuses to be shifted to [his] Bani Gala [residence] in house arrest.”
Aleema Khan, quoting the PTI founder, stated that the “May 9 conspiracy was pre-planned” by those responsible for making the CCTV footage of the incidents disappear. She added that those who left the party after May 9 were forgiven.
She alleged that countless people were still missing since the last month’s protests in Islamabad’s D-Chowk. She also alleged that the bodies of the deceased PTI protesters had been buried. She told reporters that Imran’s sentences would not stand in the high court appeals.
Aleema Khan’s remarks echoed in a statement issued by the PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas. He reaffirmed PTI’s unwavering commitment to upholding the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the pursuit of Haqeeqi Azadi [true freedom].
“PTI’s unlawfully incarcerated founder Imran Khan has categorically refused to strike any deal or seek foreign interference to secure his release because he believed in the country’s judicial system to deliver justice,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed criticized the government side for creating a fuss over the ongoing negotiations process and seeking escape routes from talks. He accused certain government ministers of polluting the political environment though propaganda to avoid a negotiated settlement to the current crisis.
He particularly criticised the statements of Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal for spreading “toxic propaganda”. He stressed that the PTI would continue to demand justice for the November 26 protesters.
Ahmed also berated Ata Tarar for criticising Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government in a ‘white paper’ on Sunday. He said that the PTI founder had predicted that 2025 would be the year of change because “these power grabbers have ruined the country and the system can no longer sustain”.
Negotiations
On December 23, the government and the PTI delegations sat across the table for talks aimed at addressing the political challenges facing the country. During the meeting, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the PTI presented their initial demands.
Some members of the PTI delegation, formed by the party founder could not attend the maiden session for various reasons. It was decided in the meeting that both sides would meet again on January 2 and the PTI would formally present its demands in writing to the government side.
At the talks, the government’s team comprised Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar, and others.
On the PTI side, the delegation included former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
Those who did not attend the December 23 meeting were National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and Salman Akram Raja. Asad Qaiser said that all members of the PTI’s negotiation committee would attend the next round of talks.
Meanwhile, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq called the in-camera meeting between the government and the PTI on January 2, 2025 at Parliament House at 11 am, which was expected to build on the discussions that began on December 23.
Asad Qaiser termed the first round of talks positive. He reiterated the PTI’s demands, stating that the party was firm on the need for a commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents. He also stressed the need for Imran’s release.
