'Talks held in more conducive environment', says Sadiq as PTI to present charter of demands in next meeting

• Sides agreed on mutual consultation for country's betterment: Sadiq.
• Imran's guidance necessary for continuation of negotiations: PTI.
• Deputy PM says no objection to PTI negotiators meeting founder. 

ISLAMABAD: Amid looming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) January 31 deadline for the result-oriented conclusion of negotiations, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has expressed satisfaction over talks being held in "more conducive environment", saying that the former ruling party would present its "charter of demands" in next session after meeting its founder Imran Khan. 

"In the last meeting we decided that PTI would present its charter of demands, but the opposition demanded another meeting with [PTI founder] Imran Khan to chalk out the list of demands and the next meeting will be held next week, hopefully," Sadiq said while talking to journalists after the conclusion of the second round of talks.

Welcoming the talks being held in a cordial environment, he said that KP CM Gandapur also tabled "excellent proposals and spoke with an open heart".

"The conclusion of the talks was that all of the participants decided to sit together for the betterment of Pakistan such as economy, terrorism and any other issue," he added.

The meeting was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in the Parliament House’s Constitution Committee Room as he was facilitating and leading the negotiations between the treasury and the opposition.

The PTI's negotiation team was represented by Leader of Opposition in NA Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, party's secretary-general Salman Akram Raja Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza. 

Whereas, the government's team include Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM's Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Farooq Sattar and Balochistan Awami Party lawmaker Khalid Magsi. 

Joint declaration

Reading out the joint declaration of the meeting, Senator Siddiqui said that PTI's Ayub and others presented their point of view in detail.

"They [PTI] demanded the release of incarcerated Imran Khan and their workers and formation of judicial commission on the events of May 9, 2023 and Nov 26," he said.

Furthermore, he said, that the opposition wanted to meet the incarcerated PTI founder for consultation to chalk out the "charter of demands". "They [PTI] said Imran had allowed to start this negotiation process... in a bid to continue the process in a positive manner, Imran's guidance is necessary," he added.

Siddiqui noted that the opposition agreed to table the charter of demand in written form after consulting the party founder. During the meeting, he said, the government has no objection to the PTI committee meeting the jailed founder.

"It was agreed that the date for the third round of talks will be announced after the PTI committee meets Imran," he concluded.

'Talks to end bitterness'

Separately, PTI lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat held a meeting with the NA speaker before the second round of talks between the government and the opposition.

Speaking to Geo News, Sadiq noted that "positive feedbacks" were coming from both sides, stressing that matters would be resolved when all sit on a negotiation table. "We all are Pakistanis... our priority is to speak for the betterment of the country and its people," he added.

In response to a question, he said that the charter of democracy was discussed in the inaugural meeting, adding that the negotiations would "end the bitterness". "We will definitely raise the issues being faced by the people [...] charter of the economy will also be discussed," he added.

"I’m here to facilitate [...] the opposition and the government have to present their respective demands," he added.

For his part, Marwat welcomed the military's decision to pardon the 19 May 9 convicts, saying that PTI's full expectations are with the ongoing negotiations. "We want political instability and uncertainty to end in the country."

Speaking to Geo News in Parliament House before the meeting, KP CM Gandapur noted that their demands “are not present in writing” but relevant documents would be shared with the government team.

Responding to a question, he expressed optimism about positive progress in the negotiations. "[Goverment] committee has been formed, its existence proves that issues must be resolved," he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Irfan Siddiqui — while speaking to Geo News — said that the government would look into the demands if presented in written form.

"We will ask them how these demands can be fulfilled," said Siddiqui, who is also a chairman of the government’s negotiation committee.

The senator added that how can the prisoners be released in the presence of the Constitution and law.

"There is no such precedent in history that prisoners have been released by executive order," he said, adding that the PTI was also in the government and if the release is possible, they "will definitely tell us".

He noted that the former ruling party should guide the government on their demands and present a solution in light of the Constitution and law. "If they convince us, we will happily consider their demands," he added.

First round of talks

After months of heightened political tensions, the embattled former ruling party and the government finally held their first round of dialogue last month.

Following the meeting which was held in a conducive environment, the Imran Khan-founded party decided to present its demands in writing to the government's negotiation committee.

It was agreed that both sides stand united in the fight against terrorism. A tribute was also paid to the martyrs for their sacrifice. There was also a declaration of support for standing alongside the forces in the war against terrorism.

The government-PTI talks are being held in the wake of the former ruling party's announcement of a civil disobedience movement if their demands of release of all political prisoners — including PTI founder Imran Khan — and the formation of a judicial commission for investigating the May 9 riots and the November 26 incident, go unmet.

The jailed former prime minister had last month called on his supporters to launch the anti-government movement by withholding remittances in the first phase.