13-01-2025
Hailey Archer
Pakistan Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
After former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan was sent to prison in 2024, the relationship between the opposition party and the government has considerably worsened causing a rise in protests and violence (Sadozai, 2025). The third session of negotiations between the PTI party and the Pakistani government is planned for January 16th (Sherazi, 2025). The Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Ayaz Sadiq, supervises this meeting (Sadozai, 2025). The PTI was the former party in power in Pakistan (Sherazi, 2025). It was after the negotiators from the PTI met with Imran Khan, the former prime minister and creator of the PTI party, that the PTI announced their willingness to meet for a third session (Sadozai, 2025; Sherazi, 2025). The upcoming talks will allow the PTI to present their demands to the government (Sherazi, 2025).
The third session is meant for the ruling coalition to make progress on the PTI’s demands (Sherazi, 2025). One of their demands was to form an impartial judicial commission for specific investigations (Sherazi, 2025). The second demand was to release the prisoners who were arrested for political reasons (e.g. those who participated in PTI protests) (Sherazi, 2025).
Sunni Ittehad Council head Sahibzada Hamid Raza threatened to cease talks if the government would not form the special commission, as well as if they did not allow these talks to continue after the end of this month (Sherazi, 2025).
Sources and further readings:
Govt, PTI to hold third round of talks on Jan 16. (2025, January 13). The Tribune. Accessed on 13 January 2025. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2521861/govt-pti-to-hold-third-round-of-talks-on-jan-16#google_vignette
Sadozai, I. (2025, January 13). Third round of govt-PTI talks set for Thursday. Dawn. Accessed on 13 January 2025. https://www.dawn.com/news/1884937/third-round-of-govt-pti-talks-set-for-thursday
Sherazi, H., & Satti, W. (2025, January 13). PTI-govt negotiators to meet on Jan 16 for ‘decisive talks’. The News. Accessed on 13 January 2025. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1271801-pti-govt-negotiators-to-meet-on-jan-16-for-decisive-talks
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