Govt Pledges Written Response to PTI by Tomorrow

Govt Pledges Written Response to PTI by Tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Despite the mixed indications from PTI, the government refused to change its stance on discussions in talks with the opposition on Sunday and reiterated that it would submit written responses to the opposition party’s list of demands in the next meeting—the next session which is scheduled for next week (Tuesday).
The opposition has demanded immediate appointment of the new chief election commissioner in the wake of Sikandar Sultan Raja’s mandate, which ended on Sunday.
The PTI ‘abandoned’ the negotiations process just a couple of days ago when the government didn’t comply with its request for judicial commissions to be formed to investigate what happened during the May 9, 20, 2023 and November 26, 2024, protests that the party called for the release of Imran Khan, its founder imprisoned for a decade.

However, on Saturday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said that the secretary had a lengthy meeting with the party’s founder, during which he expressed interest in meeting with the PTI Negotiation Committee.
The government said this weekend that PTI was out of the dialogue process despite an agreement that PTI would present its response to PTI’s demands within seven days, which would be January 28.
“We do not want to be slammed (by the public announcement of our answers or to journalists). We will submit our answers to the committee during the upcoming gathering,” asserted Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who is the spokesperson for negotiations with the team that negotiates for the government, in an announcement.
Mr Siddiqui cited Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, saying Imran Khan had instructed the party to end the talks since they were not honest about creating judiciary commissions.
“We are unable to respond (to the demands of the PTI) by the 28th. We won’t give responses nor announce any decision concerning the commissions [judicial] at the beginning of the seven-day period,” said the minister.
On the other hand, Barrister Gohar, in his statement, stated that even though PTI had walked away from talks, it was possible to convince Imran Khan again to participate in the dialogue if the government agreed to discuss the terms of references (TORs) for the commissions of judicial review.
Tarnishing ECP image
The day before, PTI called upon the government to quickly appoint an honest, fair and neutral chief election officer (CEC) in an open manner and in consultation with the PTI party to revive the monitor’s “badly tarnished integrity” and keep the integrity of democratic processes throughout the country.
The demand was made on Sunday at the end of the term of CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The time of the chief’s departure created a lasting impression on the country’s electoral landscape, as stated by PTI’s Central Secretary, Sheikh Waqqas Akram, in an announcement.
He added that it was the government’s responsibility for the prompt and consensual appointment of the CEC and the provincial head of the institution to protect the institution against “further destruction.”
Mr. Akram stressed the need for the federal government to establish a parliamentary committee with no delay to oversee the appointments made, as required under Article 213 of our constitution.
Mr. Akram has also denied reports of divisions in the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, emphasizing that the party is unifying and cohesive under Imran Khan’s leadership.
It’s possible to remember that KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, also the provincial leader of the provincial chapter of the party, was removed by the MNA Junaid Akbar Khan a day earlier.