2nd round of talks tomorrow: PTI yet to finalise ToRs and CoD
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The second round of crucial negotiations between the opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the federal government will take place tomorrow (Wednesday, January 2, 2024).
However, PTI has yet to finalise and submit its charter of demands, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Tuesday.
According to sources, PTI leadership is deliberating whether to present the demands in written or verbal form, with a decision expected later today.
PTI founding chairman Imran Khan has instructed all members of the PTI negotiation committee to ensure their presence at the second meeting.
The first round of talks, held in-camera at the Parliament House on Monday, December 23, 2024, was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
Out of the seven-member PTI committee, only three leaders were present, raising questions about the party's commitment to the process.
In the next session, scheduled for January 2, PTI is expected to present its finalised charter of demands, and the government is anticipated to respond formally.
During the first round of talks, PTI representatives demanded the release of all prisoners, including the party's founder and former premier, Imran Khan.
According to the official press release issued after the first round, the first meeting of both the dialogue committees was held at the Parliament House in Islamabad with Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair.
The government committee comprised Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Rana Sanaullah, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Dr Farooq Sattar.
The PTI coalition committee was represented by Asad Qaiser, Raja Nasir Abbas, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza in the first round of talks.
The seven-member PTI team, which was announced earlier, was comprised of Omar Ayub Khan, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Hamid Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.
In the first round of talks, the opposition committee presented an initial layout of its demands. It was decided that the opposition will submit its charter of demands in writing at the next meeting to be held on the 2nd of the next month.
The meeting also offered fateha for the departed souls of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism. It also expressed the resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation for the complete elimination of terrorism from the country.
According to the report, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza said on December 26, 2024, that talks between the PTI and the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would continue in the coming days and conclude by January 31, 2025.
Reporter: Tayyab Saif