ISLAMABAD: The first round of talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) concluded at the chamber of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Friday, with both sides presenting their respective demands.
The two sides agreed to resume negotiations on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser and Aamir Dogar participated in the talks. Pakistan Peoples Party leaders Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman also attended, while the government delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Rana Sanaullah, Talal Chaudhry, Amir Muqam and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
During the meeting, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed the participants on the security and terrorism situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to sources, the PTI presented several demands, including the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, a medical examination of the PTI founder, and the release of his sisters and arrested members of the assemblies.
The government, meanwhile, asked PTI to withdraw its call for a long march.
Speaking after the conclusion of Friday’s session, Barrister Gohar said the talks were held in a positive atmosphere and both sides had conveyed their positions to each other.
“We have presented our demands to the government,” Gohar said, expressing hope that the dialogue would continue on Saturday. He added that the talks were different from previous rounds and that PTI leadership continued to follow the directions of Imran Khan.
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja said the party remained firm on its demands.
Sources said Mohsin Naqvi and Rana Sanaullah also spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on the progress made during the talks and the demands presented by the opposition.
The talks were briefly paused for Friday prayers, after which the participants returned to the negotiations.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said he was only playing the role of a facilitator in the dialogue. He expressed hope that the talks would succeed, stressing that negotiations were the way to resolve differences and that Parliament was the appropriate forum for finding solutions to political issues.
Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said details of the discussions would remain confidential. He said major crises could be resolved through negotiations and urged the government to address the issues in good faith.
Earlier, Barrister Gohar said that imposing governor’s rule or an emergency would not resolve the political issues. He called for meaningful negotiations and said the process should not be limited to a photo opportunity.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the government had never been reluctant to engage in dialogue and expressed hope that the opposition would not miss the opportunity for talks.
Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah said matters relating to the courts would be resolved through the courts, while political issues could be discussed and settled at the negotiating table.
Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the prime minister himself had invited the opposition leader for talks and that the government’s doors for dialogue had remained open. He urged the opposition to adopt a political approach and avoid confrontation in Islamabad.