The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called off its ongoing talks with the current government, following a directive from Imran Khan. This decision comes after the government failed to establish a judicial commission as per PTI’s demands.
Speaking to the media outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Barrister Gohar explained that he, along with PTI’s legal team, met with Imran Khan earlier in the day. Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year, expressed his frustration with the government’s inaction, saying the failure to form a judicial commission left no reason to continue negotiations.
“Imran Khan has made it clear that no further negotiations will take place,” Gohar said. “The government made promises but hasn’t followed through, which is why PTI has decided to end the talks.”
The negotiations between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government and PTI had started in late December in an attempt to ease the political tensions in the country. However, despite holding three rounds of discussions, the talks have made little progress on key issues.
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In PTI’s formal set of demands presented to the government on January 16, the party called for the formation of two judicial commissions, one to investigate the May 9, 2023 riots and another to examine events surrounding PTI’s Islamabad protests from November 24-27, 2024. The party insisted that these commissions should be composed of three senior judges, either from the Supreme Court or the high courts, and that they be mutually nominated by both PTI and the government within seven days.
Barrister Gohar emphasized that PTI would continue its legal struggle in line with the Constitution and the law, while also planning to rally against efforts to undermine an independent judiciary and the 26th Amendment. He also reiterated that PTI was not seeking external assistance in its efforts.
Khan’s remarks further stressed that the promised judicial commission, which was supposed to be announced by the government, had still not materialized. He stated, “We are not waiting for help from any foreign country.”
