Islamabad, Pakistan – Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s party has decided to walk out of talks with the government, which aims to reduce tensions on the country’s political landscape for the past three years, which enforce the opposition party and law enforcement. There has been fears of a collision on the roads between the agencies.
After three rounds of talks, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek -e -Insaf (PTI) had placed the responsibility on the government to consider its Charter of Demands, which he presented during the last talks on January 16. However, a week later, on Thursday, PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan announced that the party would withdraw from the talks following August 2023 after the guidance of Kenat Khan.
Talking to reporters outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where the former Prime Minister is kept, Ali Khan said that the PTI founder had “clearly” directed that no further talks be held because the government had violently. He did not agree to set up a judicial commission to investigate the incidents. Two important days in the recent history of Pakistan.
Ali Khan told the media on Thursday, “The government has made announcements but has not yet been implemented, which is why Imran Khan decided to end the talks”.
However, government officials insist that it has not yet made a decision on the demand of the judicial commission. For its part, the government said it had formed a sub -committee and was consulting with coalition partners in the negotiating team.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government committee, questioned the sudden decision to withdraw from PTI talks when consultation was still underway.
When did we say that we will not set up a judicial commission? We took these demands very seriously, “Siddiqui said on Thursday evening.” We talked to each other. What the PTI said about the removal is very sad. I do not understand what happened in these seven days, “he added.
“Constant struggle”
The talks between the PTI and the government began in December last year, which aimed to reduce the political tensions spread in the country since April 2022, when Khan’s PTI government dropped through a parliamentary vote of no -confidence. Wait
There were three rounds, during which the PTI presented a charter of demands, which included two judicial commissions and the release of “political prisoners”.
Ali Khan, who served as chairman of PTI in the absence of Imran Khan, said that the party would continue the protest and would work with other political parties across the country.
“We will continue our struggle according to the constitution and the law,” he said. We will start a movement with all political parties.
The two judicial commissions that the PTI demanded was intended to investigate the incidents of May 9, 2023 and 26 November 2024.
In May 2023, former Prime Minister Khan was detained for a short time in a corruption case in which he was finally sentenced last Friday.
During his brief detention, PTI supporters launched violent protests across the country, targeting public buildings and military offices and installations, including the Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
As a result, thousands of PTI workers and leaders were arrested, and more than 100 were tried in secret military courts, of which at least 80 were recently sentenced to three to 10 years in prison. Gone. Imran Khan is also facing allegations of rebellion against these incidents and inciting “terrorism”.
In November 2024, PTI started the march towards Islamabad, calling it a “final call” for Imran Khan’s release. However, law enforcement agencies dispersed the protesters, PTI claimed that 12 workers were killed by security forces in the clashes, which the government refuses.
“Speak out of somewhere”
The beginning of the dialogue between the two sides was seen as a positive step, which at a time raising hopes of returning to regular parliamentary politics when the country was growing in the form of growing attacks by armed groups. Challenges are facing.
Aqeel Malik, a spokesman for the legal affairs of the government, expressed surprise at the PTI’s decision, calling it a “out of somewhere.”
Malik said, “We agreed on the seven working days, and our consultation on the demands submitted by the PTI was underway, for dialogue with the allies and for legal advice.”
He added that there was no hesitation in acknowledging the demands of the PTI from the government, but he emphasized the need to avoid rush decisions. “There was no indication that we decided to make a commission or not. But the PTI decided to walk out suddenly.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari accused the government of calling the talks a “fraud” and alleged that he was using them to buy time.
“We drew the motivation for the negotiations because our first and important condition was to make a commission. But if the government was not doing so, what is the benefit of continuing it? Bukhari told Al Jazeera.
The UK -based PTI leader argued that making a commission would be the easiest step and suggested that the government’s hesitation reflects malicious intentions.
“He was never serious about initiating talks,” he said.
“Opportunity wasted”
Analysts have described the sudden exclusion from PTI talks as “extraordinary”. Asma Shirazi, a political commentator, said that by submitting her Charter of Demands, PTI looked ready to ease the tension, which is especially disappointing.
“It is absolutely incomprehensible that despite the progress, he decided to abandon the talks,” he argued that the PTI could strengthen its position by forceing the government to abolish all options.
“They should have wait for the last date. If the government failed, the PTI would have the moral elevation to put them under pressure,” Shirazi said.
Political analyst Talat Hussain noted a different view between the two sides.
“For the government, it was a gradual process. But PTI only expected success in a few rounds,” he told Al Jazeera.
Hussein echoed Shirazi and said it was a chance to trap the government, but PTI rejected it.
“They could test the government by putting the ball in their court, waiting for their demands to be followed. If the government failed to do so after the next visits, they could say that the government was not serious and we Walk out.
More movement is coming?
Since being ousted from power three years ago, PTI has often organized protest marches, which often paralyze the country with road closures and internet blackout.
PTI leader Bukhari indicated that the party could return to the streets. “Our supporters are ready to come out for Khan, even in a big personal risk,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s current “asthma environment” needs to be resolved.
However, government spokesman Malik said the protest should remain peaceful.
He said that if he violates the constitution through chaste politics or violence, the government is fully equipped to respond.
Islamabad -based analyst Shirazi said he hoped that the PTI would return to agitation.
The last time the PTI tried to blackmail Islamabad in November by besieged Islamabad. Now the Champions Trophy is scheduled next month, does this mean that PTI will use it as a chance to sow the seeds of chaos again? She thought.
Pakistan is expected to host eight cricket countries in February, it is organizing such a big event for the first time since 1996, when it hosted the Cricket World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
The PTI also gave a call for a protest in October last year, according to the dates of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad, which was taking place in Islamabad. However, the day before the ceremony, the PTI decided to withdraw its call.
Hussein, though, was not fully convinced that PTI would re -start the roads and achieve its goal.
“They may not be more angry than they have already done in the last two years. They have imposed a special restriction on bringing people to the streets and spreading destruction. Need to get ahead, “he said. “It would be interesting to see what they go now.”
