In partnership with
Profit
NDC leaDers Call for release of politiCal prisoNers as CBMs for govt-oppostioN talks Thursday, 8 January, 2026 | 18 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447
g
MEETING AGREES TO INITIATE FRUITFUL TALKS, ASKING GOVT AND OPPOSITION TO FORM COMMITTEES
a
ISLAMABAD
g
NDC EXTENDS SPECIAL INVITATION TO OPPOSITION ALLIANCE TTAP WHICH HAD REPORTEDLY REFUSED TO ATTEND THE MEETING
g
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 184 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
LEADERS SUGGEST CONCRETE AND PRACTICAL STEPS BE TAKEN FOR DIALOGUE, INCLUDING IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ‘POLITICAL WORKERS,’ AND QUASHING OF CASES
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Staff report
group of former PTI leaders and others on Wednesday proposed that the government and the opposition hold talks to reduce tensions and suggested that political prisoners be released as part of “confidence-building measures.” They made proposals in a formal statement issued at the conclusion of Wednesday’s conference in Islamabad, organised under the banner of the recently formed National Dialogue Committee (NDC). Ex-PTI leaders—including Fawad Chaudhry, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Dr Shahzad Waseem, and Mahmood Moulvi—are leading the initiative. “The meeting agreed to the proposal to initiate a fruitful negotiation process and declared that, in this regard, the government and the opposition should form separate committees comprising their respective representatives, between which the dialogue process should be initiated,” the statement read. The NDC proposed that President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif represent the ruling coalition in the talks. On the PTI side, it said: “After the announcement of the government’s committee, the National Dialogue Committee, in consultation with the opposition’s senior leadership in jail, will announce the names for the opposition committee.”
pM shehbaz gives his approval for govt-pti negotiations
pti protest BouND to fail; CeNtre CaN iMpose goverNor’s rule iN kp, warNs raNa saNaullah ISLAMABAD
Staff CorreSpondent
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday warned that the federal government has the constitutional authority to impose governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while dismissing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned protest as “doomed to fail”. Speaking to a local news channel, Sanaullah expressed concern over the PTI’s confrontational approach, cautioning that continued defiance by the party’s founder could lead to serious consequences. He welcomed the recent press conference by Director General
Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), terming his remarks clear, timely and significant. Sanaullah said the government had acted responsibly by offering dialogue to the PTI on three occasions on the floor of the National Assembly through the prime minister, but the party failed to respond. Despite this, he added, the PTI has once again announced a protest, which he said was unlikely to succeed. Criticising the PTI leadership, he said the party continues to pursue politics through street agitation and unrest and strongly condemned the May 9 incidents, describing them as acts of violence and anarchy that would not be tolerated. Commenting on the situation
in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sanaullah accused the PTI-led provincial government of obstructing counter-terrorism efforts, alleging that its actions reflected alignment with hostile narratives rather than cooperation with the state. He said the federal government was fully cognisant of the situation and had constitutional options available, including the imposition of governor’s rule in the province. When asked specifically about the possibility of governor’s rule in KP, Sanaullah said the option remained on the table and would be exercised if the PTI continued to challenge the authority of the state.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given his approval for negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). According to sources, the prime minister has authorized Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to lead the talks, and the government delegation is ready to participate at the Speaker’s request. Government sources emphasized that negotiations will only involve elected representatives of PTI, and discussions with non-elected members will not take place. Meanwhile, sources from the Speaker’s office stated that no PTI leader has formally contacted them for talks yet. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has maintained the parliamentary committee, and if the opposition shows willingness, he will convene its meeting immediately. Parliamentary sources noted that despite the Speaker’s offer, the opposition has not reached out so far. The Speaker has invited PTI leaders to visit his chamber for discussions. It is worth noting that PTI’s last meeting with the Speaker was held to appoint Mahmood Achakzai as the opposition leader. In related development, former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani urged the Senate chairman and National Assembly speaker to move ahead with appointing leaders of the opposition in both houses of Parliament, warning that keeping these positions vacant marginalises dissenting voices. The offices have remained unfilled since August last year, when then opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate — PTI’s Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz — were disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after their convictions in cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots. Although the PTI has nominated Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as opposition leader in the National Assembly and Majlis Wahdat-iMuslimeen’s Allama Raja Nasir Abbas for the Senate, their appointments have yet to be officially notified.