The first meeting between representatives of the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was convened today at Parliament House, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
The government has urged PTI to present its list of demands in the next round of discussions.
The PTI delegation included Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Raja Nasir Abbas, while the government was represented by Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Irfan Siddiqui, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Aleem Khan, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Naveed Qamar.
The session commenced with prayers for the success of the dialogue, emphasizing the importance of fostering political harmony in the current climate.
Speaker Sadiq called the talks a significant democratic step, highlighting that resolving political challenges through dialogue is essential for strengthening democracy and achieving stability.
He also noted that the parliament, representing 240 million citizens, carries the responsibility of addressing the public’s concerns and ensuring economic and political progress.
During the discussions, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar expressed concerns over actions or statements, such as tweets, that could undermine the negotiation process.
PTI’s Asad Qaiser acknowledged this issue and assured that it had been discussed within his party’s core committee.
Both sides agreed to continue the dialogue process, with the next meeting scheduled for January 2.
The PTI has been asked to formally present its demands during that session.
After the meeting, Senator Irfan Siddiqui shared an official statement with the media.
He revealed that the initial session was held in a positive environment, and both sides expressed appreciation for Speaker Sadiq’s efforts in facilitating the dialogue.
The statement also confirmed that PTI’s committee would submit a written charter of demands in the upcoming session.
Additionally, Asad Qaiser informed the meeting that some members of his team were unable to attend the talks due to scheduling conflicts.
Both committees regarded the discussions as a promising start toward addressing the prevailing political tensions.
