ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced on Thursday that the party founder, Imran Khan, has decided to suspend talks with the government due to its failure to meet the agreed deadline for forming judicial commissions. The commissions were intended to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26, which remain key issues in ongoing political disputes.
The decision comes after two rounds of meetings between PTI and government representatives aimed at easing political tensions. In the third meeting held on January 16, PTI formally submitted its demands in writing, including the formation of judicial commissions and the release of its detained members. However, little progress has been made since then.
Speaking outside Adiala Jail after meeting Imran Khan, Barrister Gohar said the government had failed to honor its promise of establishing the commissions within seven days, leaving PTI with no choice but to call off the negotiations. “The talks were progressing with hope, but due to the government’s lack of cooperation, we have to halt the dialogue,” he stated.
Despite this, Gohar emphasized that the party remains open to resuming talks if a three-member judicial commission is announced. He also indicated that PTI would continue its efforts through constitutional means and align with other opposition parties to intensify its struggle.
The government, however, has urged PTI to remain engaged in the dialogue process, promising to respond to its demands in the fourth round of talks scheduled for January 28. PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a government representative, expressed confidence that PTI would rejoin the discussions, arguing that the dialogue was initiated at PTI’s behest. He also criticized PTI’s decision to withdraw as “illogical” and urged the party to reconsider.
The PTI has called for the formation of judicial commissions to probe several incidents. Regarding the May 9 events, the party has demanded investigations into the legality of Imran Khan’s arrest, the protests that followed, and any human rights violations during the detention of protestors. It has also sought reviews of alleged media censorship and internet shutdowns during the unrest.
For the November 26 crackdown during PTI’s Islamabad protest, the party has requested inquiries into the use of force, the number of casualties, and the handling of medical records and CCTV footage. The PTI has claimed that the government imposed internet blackouts and tampered with hospital records to suppress information about the events.
Senator Siddiqui reiterated that the government is committed to addressing PTI’s demands and has nearly finalized its position on the matter. He urged PTI to remain patient, emphasizing that dialogue requires mutual trust and restraint.
“We request them not to abandon the talks prematurely. The government has shown goodwill and avoided confrontational measures to create an atmosphere of cooperation,” Siddiqui said.
He also invited PTI to formally communicate any grievances and continue its participation in the negotiation process, asserting that abandoning dialogue would be counterproductive to resolving the country’s political crises.
While the government remains optimistic about resuming the discussions, PTI’s suspension of talks has added uncertainty to the resolution of key political disputes.
