Pakistan’s Opposition Party Seeks Judicial Probe into May 9, Nov 26 Events

The government pledges a written response by January 31 to defuse political tensions in the country.

Thu Jan 16 2025
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s main opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has demanded judicial investigations into two contentious episodes—violent unrest following the arrest of the country’s former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, and a crackdown on protesters on November 26, 2024.

During high-stakes negotiations with the government on Thursday, the opposition party also called for the release of political prisoners and warned that failure to meet these demands could jeopardize the negotiations. The government has pledged a written response by January 31.

During the latest round of talks, PTI formally submitted its demands in a written document. This was presented during the third round of negotiations with the government at Parliament House, facilitated by the country’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

This crucial in-camera session follows two previous rounds of talks, the first on December 27, 2024, and the second on January 2, 2025. Both sides have been engaged in these talks to address a series of pressing political issues amid rising tensions between the ruling coalition and the opposition party.

PTI’s ‘Charter of Demands’, available with WE News English, also mentions that if the government fails to constitute two separate commissions on the violent events, the party will not continue the negotiations.

Irfan Siddiqui, a senator of the ruling PML-N party, also spokesperson of the PML-N negotiating committee said that the government will respond PTI charter of demand in black and white but that response may take a few days.

He noted that negotiations would be based on the constitution, law, and established traditions and that the government’s response would be shared by January 31, 2025.

However, there are indications that this deadline could be extended, depending on the progress made in the negotiations.

Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, party’s Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza represented the PTI.

Whereas, the government’s team include Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Farooq Sattar and Balochistan Awami Party lawmaker Khalid Magsi.

In the three-page document, the PTI mentioned that the party and its allies have travelled through “blood and gore” and their leader Khan and thousands of our supporters have faced “unjustified imprisonment”.

The party’s written demands bear the signature of all six members of the PTI’s negotiation committee including CM Gandapur, ex-speaker Qaiser, Secretary-General Raja, MWM head Allama Abbas, and SIC’s Raza represented the PTI.

The document mentioned that the party entered into negotiations with the “government installed in Islamabad” in order to take the fight for the people’s rights onwards.

“The Charter of Demands is presented as a prerequisite to wider negotiations with respect to the restoration of the Constitution, the rule of law and respect for the people’s mandate, free and fair elections.”

In the previous two rounds, with the first taking place on December 27, 2024, followed by a second session on January 2, 2025, the party did not present its demands as they awaited Khan’s nod.

However, after much ado, the PTI negotiators were allowed to meet the PTI founder — behind bars at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail — who gave them comprehensive instructions, based on which their demands were finalised.

Ahead of the meeting, the spokesperson for the government committee, Irfan Siddiqui, said that all seven coalition partners will submit PTI’s demands to their party leaders.

The party has demanded that the government form two commissions —which will comprise the Chief Justice of Pakistan or three serving judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, mutually nominated by the PTI and the government within seven days.

“The conduct of the proceedings of the two Commissions must be open to the general public as well as the media,” the party mentioned in the document.

The PTI has called upon the federal government, as well as the governments of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to support, in accordance with the law, the grant of bail or orders suspending the conviction and sentence of all political prisoners.

The party said that it would identify the political prisoners, who were arrested following the events of May 9 and November 24 to 24 or any other political event elsewhere.

It also sought support for those who have been convicted and whose appeals or revisions are presently pending before a court of law.

The PTI has overall outlined a total of 22 key before before the government, specifically putting forward five demands concerning the formation of two inquiry commissions.

The party presented nine demands in connection with the first inquiry commission, and seven demands related to the second commission.

Among the demands are the release of political activists arrested nationwide and the suspension of their sentences.

PTI’s demands: At the heart of PTI’s demands is the formation of two independent commissions of inquiry, both to be headed by the Chief Justice or three judges of the Supreme Court.

The first commission is to investigate the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, including an inquiry into the actions of Rangers and police entering the Islamabad High Court, as well as a detailed probe into CCTV footage surrounding the events that unfolded after Khan’s arrest. The PTI also calls for an investigation into alleged media censorship, journalist harassment, and the nationwide internet shutdown.

The second commission is to examine the incidents that transpired from November 24-27, 2024, especially focusing on the use of force against protesters in Islamabad.

PTI demands that the commission identify those responsible for the excessive use of force and investigate the challenges faced by citizens when registering FIRs. Additionally, it calls for an inquiry into media censorship during these events. PTI has also demanded that the federal and provincial governments issue orders for the release or suspension of sentences of all political prisoners.

Govt’s response and timeline

The government, represented by a broad coalition of seven parties, has assured the opposition that it will consult with its allies and provide a written response to PTI’s demands.

Irfan Siddiqui –  a spokesperson for the government committee –  noted that negotiations would be based on the constitution, law, and established traditions and that the government’s response would be shared by January 31, 2025.

However, there are indications that this deadline could be extended, depending on the progress made in the negotiations.

Siddiqui further stressed that a positive outcome would require mutual agreement on all points and that the government’s stance remains focused on finding a constitutional resolution.

The government also reassured that the negotiations would not be rushed, allowing adequate time for deliberation before any final agreements are reached.

The PTI has set a clear deadline of January 31 for the conclusion of these talks, emphasizing the urgency of resolving issues related to the political prisoners and the judicial commission.

However, PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub and Salman Akram Raja, have warned that failure to meet these demands could lead to the collapse of the negotiations and the abandonment of any further rounds of talks.

Ayub remarked that PTI has been “pushed against the wall,” and that the party’s only recourse would be to mobilize public support through widespread protests.

The government’s position remains cautious, with officials emphasizing the need for further consultations and deliberations before a formal response to PTI’s charter of demands is made.

The ruling coalition is also keen to ensure that the process adheres to legal and constitutional standards, avoiding any undue haste in addressing the complex political matters at hand.

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