PM Shehbaz forms committee for talks with PTI

In a big development, which could better be described as a breaking of ice in the government's strained relations with the PTI, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the recommendation of National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on Sunday constituted a committee for talks with the party, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Members of the committee are Vice Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Aleem Khan, Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Sardar Khalid Magsi.

On Saturday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had requested the NA speaker to play his role in the party’s talks with the government.

While announcing that a committee had been formed, the prime minister said that the national interest was supreme over all other considerations.

Former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan had formed a committee to engage with the government weeks ago, which reflected the party's realisation that the policy of confrontation could not be continued indefinitely.

The committee members are Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Hamid Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.

However, later the hawkish elements in the government started mocking the party for capitulating to the government's pressure.

The government, instead of immediately forming the committee to show its seriousness that it wanted to sort out its differences with the country's most popular party, started dilly-dallying. 

On the other hand, while welcoming the constitution of a committee, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed the hope that it would produce the desired results. 

Omar Ayub also welcomed the government's decision and said that the demand for the formation of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 and November 26 incidents would also be part of the agenda for talks.  

Meanwhile, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Adviser to the Prime Minister, said that the release of Imran Khan would not be included in the agenda for talks. 

In the same breath, he said that the government could also not be blackmailed by the civil disobedience movement. “Just forget that the negotiations will lead to the withdrawal of cases against the PTI leaders.”

Reporter: Awais Kiani