PTI presents demands in writing to govt, seeks Imran Khan's release

The much-anticipated third round of in-camera talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was held at Parliament House in Islamabad Thursday, in which the PTI submitted its charter of demands in writing to the government committee, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The PTI submitted its written two-point charter of demands on three pages in the meeting – release of political leaders and activists and establishment of a judicial commission to probe May 9 and November 26 incidents.

During the talks, the PTI formally presented its demands in written form, putting forward two main demands — the formation of two judicial commissions, and “support” of the federal and provincial governments in bail, sentence suspensions, and acquittals of “political prisoners” identified by the PTI.

The party stated that the demands were presented as a “prerequisite to wider negotiations with respect to the restoration of the Constitution, the rule of law and respect for the people’s mandate, free and fair elections”.

It called upon the government to “set up two Commissions of Inquiry in terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017”, demanding that they comprise the chief justice of Pakistan or three serving Supreme Court judges, mutually nominated by the PTI and the government within seven days. “The conduct of the proceedings of the two commissions must be open to the general public as well as the media,” it added.

“The establishment of the two commissions identified in this charter is a necessary indication of seriousness of intent,” it stressed and added “We shall not be able to continue with the negotiations if the two commissions sought by us are not agreed to in principle and constituted forthwith.”

In its demands, the PTI asked that the first commission be tasked to conduct an in-depth inquiry into various aspects, including the “legality of the events that led” to Imran’s arrest on May 9, 2023.

It further sought a probe into the “legality of the manner of the arrest and those responsible for the break-in into the premises of the Islamabad High Court by the Rangers and the police”.

It also sought inquiry into nationwide violent protests that occurred on May 9 last year. The PTI specifically asked for a probe into the “circumstances in which groups of individuals were able to reach various high security locations at which damage to property is said to have been caused”. It sought an “examination of the CCTV recordings at each location where damage is said to have been caused by protesters”.

Moreover, the party said that if the CCTV footage is “not available, the causes of this lack of availability” be investigated as well.

The PTI demanded that the “manner in which those arrested in connection with the events of 9 May were apprehended and then kept in custody as well as the circumstances of their release” be also looked into. “Were the human rights of these individuals violated, including through torture? How were the lists of those to be arrested compiled?” it asked.

“Were multiple FIRs (first information reports) registered against the same individual with respect to May 9, 2023 and sequential arrests carried out in abuse of the process of the law?” the party further asked.

It also sought a review of “instances of media censorship and restrictions on reporting related to the incident, including harassment of journalists”.

Bringing reoccurring internet disruptions into the discussion, the PTI demanded that the “vires and legality of government’s imposition of internet shutdowns and its impact before, during and after the unrest and fix responsibility.
Seeking the formation of a separate commission over its November ‘Final Call’ protest, the PTI asked for another in-depth inquiry into the events of November 24 to 27 in Islamabad. “Was there firing of live ammunition and other forms of physical assault on the protestors in Islamabad? If so, who ordered the use of live ammunition and other violent actions against the protestors? To what extent was the use of force excessive? If so, who was responsible for the excessive use of force?” the PTI asked.

Earlier, members of the PTI team including Omar Ayub Khan, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Allama Nasir Abbas signed the charter of demands which was later presented to the government committee members in the meeting.

Member of the government committee Senator Irfan Siddiqui said he was optimistic about the outcome of the talks. “There could be a miracle in the talks," he maintained.

Irfan Siddiqui said the government will take its allies into confidence regarding the PTI’s demand and will give its response before January 30. “The talks may proceed beyond the January 31 deadline,” he added. 

Member of the PTI negotiation committee Sahibzada Hamid Raza made it clear while talking to newsmen that if the government did not agree on forming a judicial commission then the talks would not continue. “The government is responsible for delay in the talks, not PTI,” he added.

When asked about Irfan Siddiqui’s talk of a miracle, Hamid Raza said “May God make it happen.”

Talking to 24NewsHD TV channel, Asad Qaiser said PTI founder Imran Khan has directed them not to complicate the talks. “Keep them brief for the sake of Pakistan,” said Asad while quoting the former prime minister. 

Govt to respond to PTI demands in seven days

Senator Irfan Siddiqui said on Thursday that the government would respond to the demands put forward by the PTI in writing today in seven days, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad with National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq sitting alongside him after the meeting, the senator said he did not rule out the possibility of a miracle in talks between the government and the PTI. “Now the government will take its allies on board on the demands presented by the party,” he added.   

He further said that talks between the two sides could continue even after January 31, which had been set as a deadline by the PTI. 

Senator Siddiqui said that the government committee was only concerned about its talks with the PTI, and had nothing to do with the negotiations the party was holding with any other party to the conflict.

He further said that the PTI leaders had also demanded that they be allowed to meet with the former prime minister and the party founder Imran Khan without any obstruction. 

Speaking on the occasion, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that progress had been made in talks between the government and the PTI committees and both of them desired to find the best possible solution to the state of confrontation existing between them.

Sadiq said that both committees had also welcomed the ceasefire announced in Gaza.

Gohar’s meeting with COAS confirmed

KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur while talking to newsmen before attending the meeting confirmed that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s meeting with Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir.

“Gohar met the Army Chief in his capacity as head of the party. Security issues were discussed in the meeting,” Gandapur said.

Asad Qaiser also confirmed that Barrister Gohar’s meeting with the COAS in Peshawar was about the security.

Hamid Raza said it was not a one-on-one meeting Gandapur was also there with Barrister Gohar.

The latest meeting of the negotiation committees, called by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, followed two earlier rounds held on December 27, 2024, and January 2, 2025.

Hopes of some development in the fresh session arose after PTI's negotiation committee had a meeting with party founder Imran Khan in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.

The long-demanded meeting, which had previously been delayed due to the PTI’s inability to meet their leader, paved the way for today's dialogue session.

The PTI has set a deadline of January 31, 2025, for the negotiations to reach a "logical conclusion", although Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has suggested extending this to February 28.

Following are the images of the PTI's demands presented to the government committee members on Thursday:

 

Reporters Usman Khan and Tayyab Saif