The government's negotiation committee spokesperson, and PML-N senator, Irfan Siddiqui offered the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) an opportunity to meet its party founder, Imran Khan, if it committed to attending the fourth session of talks between the two sides scheduled for January 28.
Speaking on Samaa TV program ‘Mere Sawal’, Irfan Siddiqui said the PTI started the talks with enthusiasm, but its decision-making is not in accordance with the rules, adding that the party maintained a childish attitude during the talks. "Now, it is difficult to facilitate them in the negotiation process," he stated.
The senator revealed that the government would not decide before January 28 whether it was in favour of the judicial commission that the PTI demanded, but "we have done 80% of the work and will do the rest also". He stressed that the condition is the PTI agrees to attend the January 28 session.
The PML-N senator claimed that there was a lack of decision-making and no consultation within the PTI. Party Chairman Barrister Gohar gave a statement after meeting Imran Khan about discontinuing the talks and did not even inform the negotiation committee, he maintained, adding that the PTI did not seem to have a strategy.
Irfan Siddiqui said the PTI wanted to create an uproar in international organizations by declaring the human rights situation a major issue and wants to shame Pakistan before the world. "Perhaps that is why it is avoiding negotiations, and the PTI founder sees the global situation in its favour," he remarked.
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He further maintained that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had gone to the US on his own, as Pakistan did not receive an invitation to attend the swearing-in of US President Donald Trump. He said if Pakistan had received an invitation, it would have even considered it. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar may visit the US in the coming days to discuss relations with the country.
Siddiqui also claimed that the PTI was trying to rally other opposition parties, adding that if the matter accelerated to a global conspiracy, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would not become a part of it. He stressed that the PTI was not in a position to form an alliance.
He claimed that former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's party has not yet received any recognition, so he would want other parties as allies. But he, along with Mahmood Khan Achakzai and the PTI founder, could not run a joint campaign, he added.
Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly
Also speaking during the program, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Bhachar said that it seemed the talks between the government and the PTI would not succeed, and if they indeed did not, the PTI would launch a protest drive.
The opposition leader said the federal government did not own Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to the US, while everyone Naqvi met in the US tweeted for the release of PTI Founder Imran Khan. "If he has gone to the US against the PTI founder, he has failed," Bhachar maintained.
He further said PTI leader Hammad Azhar was not being replaced as the PTI Punjab president with Alia Hamza, but the PTI founder has ordered to give some responsibilities to Alia Hamza and not mentioned anything about removing the Punjab president.
The opposition leader said the government itself was trying to sabotage the negotiations, while Imran Khan had sought a meeting with his party committee before the January 28 round of talks. He further clarified that Ali Amin Gandapur was not removed from the party presidency of KP because of Bushra Bibi.
