ISLAMABAD: After Prime Minister Shehbaz’s announcement to constitute a negotiating committee of the government to hold talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, wasting no time, invited both sides for a meeting to take forward the process of dialogue at his chamber on Monday morning.
The prime minister, on the proposal of the Speaker, has constituted an eight-member negotiating committee of the government comprising cabinet members and having representation of allied parties, the PM media wing on Sunday said.
The National Assembly Secretariat also issued notice of the meeting late Sunday night.
“Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will chair a (in-camera) meeting on negotiations between the Treasury and Opposition on Monday, 23rd December at 11.30 am in the Constitution Room (Second Floor), Parliament House”, the notice of meeting as issued by the National Assembly Secretariat said.
The government’s committee comprises Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan, PMLN parliamentary leader in the Senate Senator Irfan Siddiqui, federal ministers Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Abdul Aleem Khan and Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Aleem, Raja Parvaiz Ashraf and Syed Naveed Qamar.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Saturday night requested the Speaker to play his role with regard to dialogue with the government.
The Speaker, while acknowledging PTI chairman’s request for talks with the government, forwarded the same to the prime minister. The prime minister, while accepting the proposal of the Speaker, decided to constitute the government negotiating committee. “I appreciate efforts undertaken by the Speaker,” the prime minister said.
The prime minister expressed the hope that national integrity and national interests would be kept in view while continuing process of talks between the government and PTI negotiating team.
“The Speaker, while welcoming prime minister’s decision to constitute government’s negotiating committee, invited both the sides to his chamber in the Parliament House at 11:30am on Monday to take forward process of talks,” a statement issued by the National Assembly Secretariat said.
The Speaker said that he would meet members of both the negotiating teams at his chamber in parliament adding that doors of the Speaker’s Office are open for all the members. “We can move forward with dialogue and talks,” he emphasized.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that he invited both the government and opposition for talks with good intentions. “The prime minister’s step to resolve issues through talks will augur well for future,” the speaker said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Sunday welcomed the formation of a committee by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and said talks should have to be taken forward in a positive manner.
In reaction to the constitution of the government negotiation committee, he said that it was a positive step, as parleys are solution to problems. He added that there should be a comprehensive discussion under good thinking with a timeframe for the negotiation process.
The PTI chairman said that considering the sensitivity of time, the negotiations have to be taken forward in a positive manner.
The PTI negotiating team comprises Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, NA ex-speaker Asad Qaisar, Senator Shibli Faraz and party’s central information secretary Raoof Hassan.
When approached, the party’s Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed that the first meeting between the two committees will be held on Monday morning.
Talking to The News, he said his party founder chairman Imran Khan had already floated two demands on the basis of which negotiations would be held with the government committee.
When asked what the fate of the civil disobedience drive would be, he said it was announced by the founder chairman and only he could decide about it. However, he maintained that the level of seriousness by the other side would be very crucial in this connection. “The party intends that after having parleys with the government committee, PTI committee members will try to meet their leader in Adiala jail and brief him about it and it is up to him then to withhold the drive,” he explained.
The PTI supremo a few weeks back had announced the formation of a committee for talks with the government on two demands -- release of all political prisoners and constitution of a judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 events -- and launching civil disobedience movement if, there are no talks or progress made on acceptance of the two demands.
Meanwhile, while addressing from London, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said: “Time and circumstances brought those to the negotiation table who were unwilling to talk. He, however, said that seeking sincerity in negotiations will be a “waste of time”.
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