ISLAMABAD: Representatives of the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) met at the office of the National Assembly Speaker to discuss the possibility of negotiations.
Meanwhile, the speaker postponed the voting process on disciplinary action against PTI’s Waqas Akram Sheikh as a goodwill gesture.
According to sources, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry allowed the PTI delegation some leeway by suspending the resolution against Sheikh Waqas Akram for being absent from the Assembly for over 40 days.
This move is being seen as an effort to reduce tensions ahead of potential talks. During the meeting, the Speaker emphasized the importance of political participation. Azam Nazir Tarar and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry supported this position. The PTI delegation assured that they would consult their parliamentary party and other leaders before giving a response.
Meanwhile, senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Naveed Qamar met PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and former Speaker Asad Qaiser on the opposition benches, advising them to pursue a political path, with PPP ready to support them.
Although both sides appeared supportive of talks during the dpeaker’s meeting, sources confirmed that formal negotiations would require approval from PTI founder Imran Khan, who is currently in jail and opposed to discussions with the government parties.
Interestingly, the majority of PTI’s parliamentary party supported talks during a recent meeting, but a source said the final decision rests with Imran Khan. Government allies, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP, have privately communicated their readiness to assist PTI in political rehabilitation, which can only happen through formal negotiations.
In the past, PTI has missed several opportunities for dialogue, as Imran Khan insisted on negotiating only with the establishment, which has shown little interest.
