Rana Sana urges PTI to participate in talks

ISLAMABAD: Hours after the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf refused to attend the fourth round of ongoing talks until the formation of a judicial commission, the government on Wednesday regretted the former ruling party’s “rigid attitude”, reiterating that negotiations were the only way out in a democratic political system.

“We would not snatch anything from the PTI if they attend [fourth round of talks]...negotiations are not a decree,” Prime Minister’s aide on political affairs Rana Sanaullah said while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.

The remarks came after PTI senior leader Omar Ayub announced that they would not attend the upcoming fourth round of talks with the ruling coalition, calling the process “useless” without the formation of a judicial commission

Sanaullah noted that the government has formed a sub-committee, which would “humbly and respectfully” respond to the PTI’s demand in writing. “It [the committee] will finalise answers within the next one or two days... this is how negotiations work in a democratic political system,” he said. The PM’s aide said the PTI could discuss the government’s response and it is possible that “during the negotiations we can reach a consensus on common point”.

Separately, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk’, said that the matters can only be resolved through negotiations provided that the talks are “reasonable”. Regretting “rigidity in the negotiation process”, he said that progress can never be made if one sticks to one point. “Talks should have give-and-take, otherwise, it would not progress.” In response to a question, the NA speaker said the opposition has publicly stated that the talks would only move forward once their demands are met.

“After holding two back-to-back meetings, the government members told me that they will take the proposals to their respective leadership and discuss them...,” he added.

Responding to another question, Sadiq said that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was making efforts for facilitating a meeting between the opposition committee members with PTI founder Imran Khan.