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Profit ‘ICE MELTING’: PTI, GOVT SHOW WILLINGNESS TO RESTART DIALOGUE PROCESS In partnership with
Thursday, 12 December, 2024 I 9 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446
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ASAD QAISAR CONTACTS AYAZ SADIQ FOR START OF DIALOGUE PROCESS ISLAMABAD
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 156 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
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BOTH SIDES AGREE TO FORM COMMITTEES FOR DIALOGUE PROCESS
PTI demands answers over deaths of protesters, calls for investigation
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
CE melted between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the federal government as PTI leader Asad Qaiser reached out to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to discuss the formal initiation of talks on Wednesday. Sources privy to the development told that former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser contacted Ayaz Sadiq to discuss the current political situation and the possibility of resuming dialogue between the two sides. During the conversation, the two leaders deliberated on the official start of negotiations and the composition of the government’s negotiating committee. Qaiser also inquired about the details regarding the government’s committee for talks, signalling PTI’s willingness to engage in discussions. However, sources indicated that no specific time has yet been set for a formal meeting to begin the negotiations. Later, a PTI delegation led by party Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan met with Ayaz Sadiq at Speaker’s Chambers. Opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan and Sahibzada Hamid Raza also were present. Ayaz Sadiq was escorted by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The sources said that Ayaz Sadiq proposed that the dialogue process should start at the platform of the Parliament and the talks should be unconditional. The sources said that the PTI delegation agreed to the proposal and agreed to hold a follow up meeting. Both the sides agreed to nominate committees for dialogue process. It was also agreed to lower political tensions and political stability in the country, the sources maintained. PTI is expected to present significant demands when the negotiations formally commence, as per informed sources. The opposition party has reportedly agreed to use Parliament as the
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
platform for the talks, following a suggestion from the NA Speaker. Speaking about the development, a member of PTI’s negotiating committee, Hamid Raza, stated, “If the government had come forward with a viable proposal earlier, talks could have taken place. We are still ready to engage in discussions.” He reiterated PTI’s willingness to negotiate with the government. Meanwhile, Senator Shibli Faraz, another senior PTI figure, said that the opposition’s negotiating committee is prepared to engage with all parties. “We have formed a serious and senior committee for talks, and we are ready to engage with everyone,” he said. While speaking in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate has blamed the government for the violence that took place in the aftermath of a ‘final’ protest call by PTI for November 24, claiming that 13 PTI members were killed in the clashes. Despite the tragic events, Faraz stated that PTI’s committee remains open to negotiations with all parties involved. Faraz labelled the government reaction as a ‘black day’ in Pakistan’s political history, adding that it would be remembered as
a day that began with the events of February 8. “Before the elections, we were stripped of our election symbol, but despite that, the public voted for us. Our mandate was stolen,” he said. He also accused the government of using live ammunition to suppress the protest. “The bullets were not intended to scare, but to kill,” Faraz added. The Senate opposition leader detailed the toll of the protests, claiming 13 fatalities, over 200 missing activists, and more than 5,000 PTI supporters in jail. He also pointed out the absence of medical records for those who were hospitalised after the violence. “We have not been given any records for the dead, and the Interior Minister had said that they would shoot for 5 minutes, and no one would be seen,” he alleged. Faraz also spoke about the political crisis in Pakistan, calling it the “most dangerous turning point” in the country’s history. He accused the current ruling party of attacking the Supreme Court, highlighting how video clips were shown at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rallies with explicit threats. “But we did not do that,” Faraz emphasised. He demanded an independent inquiry into the incidents of
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has once again raised the issue of the alleged deaths of its supporters during the party’s November protest in Islamabad, with Barrister Gohar Ali Khan demanding that the government have the “courage to give answers.” The call for an inquiry comes a day after National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of giving an “order to kill” during the November 26 protest, alleging that security forces used NATOsupplied weapons for counterterrorism operations. In a response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif refuted these accusations, criticizing the opposition for using the “provincial card” to further its narrative. He denied any unlawful actions by the government in dealing with the protest. May 9 and November 24, calling for a commission led by three senior judges of the Supreme Court. “We want an investigation into what happened on November 24 and May 9,” he said, stressing that a fair investigation would require senior judicial oversight. Faraz also criticised the response from other political parties, expressing disappointment at their stance on the matter. “What is happening to us today, will happen to you tomorrow,” he warned, referring to the government’s treatment of opposition parties.
During the session, Gohar reiterated the PTI’s claim that 12 party supporters died in the crackdown that forced the leadership to retreat. While distancing the party from exaggerated casualty numbers circulating on social media, Gohar said the government must investigate the deaths, show remorse, and compensate the affected families. He emphasized that the people who died in the protests were “peaceful civilians” who had no weapons. “If bullets were fired, then there should be responsibility, and justice must be served,” Gohar demanded, warning the government that failure to take action would prompt more protests from the PTI. Further, he criticized the government for not making any progress on a parliamentary committee’s efforts to investigate the incident, pointing out that no meeting had been convened despite calls from PTI and allied members.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made a tit-for-tat argument to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI’s) demand for return of its mandate in 2024 general elections, saying that the PML-N can return PTI’s mandate if the latter could return the 2018 electoral mandate first. Speaking in the Senate, Dar said, “If you return the 2018 mandate to us, we will take charge, govern, and then you can hold the 2024 elections as scheduled.”