ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, on Wednesday said that the ongoing talks between the opposition political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the coalition government were paused due to the unavailability of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The NA Speaker is acting as a facilitator in the government and opposition talks to address the ongoing political crisis in the country.
Addressing a press conference, Rana Sanaullah said the NA speaker is on a foreign visit adding that the negotiations would resume as soon as he returns to Pakistan.
The two sides, after months of political war, held two rounds of negotiations on December 27, 2024, and on January 2, 2025. However, the unexpected delay in the third round of talks sparked speculations about the future of the talks.
The PM’s aide criticising the PTI said that the party is spreading the “narrative of lies” on social media platforms.
Referring to PTI’s claims about causalities during the November 26 protest and facilities to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, he said that the Khan-founded party was deliberately spreading false propaganda.
He pointed out that the former ruling party had shared an image of a Palestinian ambulance on social media, falsely claiming that their supporters were being killed.
Rana Sanaullah accused the PTI of hatching conspiracy against Pakistan and the state institutions. “PTI is trying to create political instability in the country,” he added.
Replying to a question, he said that the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case against the former premier and his wife has nothing to do with the dialogue process. He stressed the need for national dialogue to defuse political tensions.
NA Speaker regrets PTI leaders’ criticism
The NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has regretted the criticism by the PTI leaders in the backdrop of meeting with the ex-prime minister in jail. “I want to clarify that my job is to facilitate the dialogue between the government and the PTI,” he added.
“If those criticising my position want me to walk out of the negotiation process, then I am ready to consider this proposal,” he added.
According to the statement, he said that being abroad did not prevent him from arranging a meeting. He added that “my doors are always open for everyone.”
Imran Khan permits submission of party’s demands
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that party founder Imran Khan has permitted the submission of the party’s demands in writing to the government amid ongoing talks to bring down the political temperature.
Briefing the media about the situation after a meeting with Imran, Barrister Gohar said: “We will present our two demands in writing because even though there is no need to do so, we don’t want to delay the talks by using it as a reason.
