The ongoing negotiations between the government and the PTI have reached a critical juncture, with disagreements over the formation of a judicial commission threatening to derail the process. The PTI has set a seven-day deadline for the formation of the commission, warning that failure to meet the demand will halt further talks.

The government’s negotiation committee spokesperson, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, has dismissed media reports suggesting a prepared response to the PTI's charter of demands. Siddiqui clarified that the sub-committee tasked with drafting the response has yet to convene, adding that discussions among coalition parties are still underway.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan says party Founder Imran Khan has instructed that if the commission is not formed in seven days, the fourth sitting with the government committee would not take place. He also insisted on the formation of a judicial commission, citing examples from India’s judiciary, including inquiries into the Babri Masjid case.

“If commissions can be formed for such cases, why not for ours?” he questioned, adding that it was the responsibility of the committee spokesperson to make the negotiations successful. 

The PTI is also upset over reports of the government negotiation team's preparation of response to its demands and the news of not forming a judicial commission due to pending cases in courts. 

Hamid Raza, spokesperson for PTI’s negotiation committee, reiterated that the party would not accept any delay in meeting their demands, emphasizing the January 31 deadline for finalizing negotiations.

Govt stance

Speaking exclusively to Samaa TV, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui labelled the reports about a prepared response to the PTI demands as baseless. “The sub-committee has not met yet, so no response has been finalized,” he stated, adding that a meeting is expected within the next two days. "There is no truth to the media reports regarding our response."

Siddiqui also emphasized the government’s commitment to consulting all seven coalition partners before proceeding to issue a consensus response.

He further noted that the formation of a judicial commission remains undecided due to legal complexities surrounding ongoing court cases. "Nothing has been finalized yet, and rumours only add confusion," Siddiqui said. 

"We had agreed to provide our response within seven working days," Siddiqui explained, adding that the finalized response will be submitted for leadership approval once the sub-committee's work is complete. 

Siddiqui also hinted at the possibility of a fourth negotiation session after January 27 or 28. Both sides are expected to consult their leadership before finalizing their positions. 

Irfan Siddiqui also suggested that Barrister Gohar join the opposition's negotiation committee, questioning why the party chairman was not included in it. "The party chairman can still play a significant role even without being a formal member of the committee," Siddiqui stated.

He emphasized that as the party chairman, Barrister Gohar holds a crucial position, and it is his responsibility to contribute to making the negotiations successful. Siddiqui further acknowledged his own responsibility in ensuring the success of the talks and expressed confidence in meeting the opposition's expectations.