The party of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan abandoned talks with the government Monday and announced plans to unite opposition groups against the administration, deepening the country’s political crisis.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said the party has accelerated efforts to build a broad coalition of democratic parties, journalists and human rights advocates. According to party officials, PTI has renewed contact with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, marking a significant shift after relations soured following the religio-political leader’s support for Pakistan’s controversial 26th amendment.
Akram confirmed that the party has also initiated discussions with prominent political figures including former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, as well as representatives from the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
Failed negotiations under microscope
The breakdown in negotiations became apparent after three rounds of talks between PTI and government representatives. PTI boycotted the scheduled fourth round after the government sent its response to demands for a judicial commission through National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq rather than directly. Sheikh told reporters that talks could resume if a judicial commission of three senior Supreme Court judges was established.
Government and opposition lawmakers engage in negotiations at the Parliament House.
PID
Sheikh accused the government of displaying insincerity during negotiations, suggesting their resistance to forming a judicial commission stemmed from concerns about potential findings on the May 9 protests and what he termed the "massacre of November 26” under Article 245.
He noted that despite PTI filing an FIR naming Prime Minister Sharif and cabinet members, no commission was established to investigate. Sheikh also cited attacks on committee members’ seminaries and restrictions on press conferences as evidence of the government’s efforts to derail negotiations.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, a member of the dissolved negotiation committee, announced its transformation into a coordination committee on PTI founder Imran Khan’s directive. The party’s new strategy, he explained, would focus on street protests and parliamentary opposition under the banner of constitutional supremacy.
Despite these accusations, Sheikh defended PTI’s commitment to negotiations, pointing out that the party continued dialogue even after Khan’s conviction. "Imran Khan insisted that the negotiation process should not be linked to the conviction,” Akram said, adding that limited access to Khan had not affected the committee’s work. He emphasized that while "the party leadership sitting outside cannot make any decision” at this point, any future negotiations would require Khan’s direct approval.
Government’s response rejected
In response to PTI’s demands for a judicial commission, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, addressing a cabinet meeting, announced an alternative proposal to form a parliamentary committee. The proposed body would investigate several contentious events, including the protests of May 9, 2023, November 26, 2024, and the 2024 elections. Sharif also suggested reviving the 2018 House Committee to examine both recent elections and the 2014 PTI sit-in.
As these proposals were being discussed, high-level meetings continued between government officials. Prime Minister Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met separately with Speaker Sadiq in Lahore on Sunday to discuss the breakdown in negotiations and potential paths forward. Sources close to the parliament indicated that Speaker Sadiq remains committed to facilitating dialogue between the parties.
‘Judicial commission still on the table’
Amid these developments, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, clarified that while PTI has ended the negotiation process, the government has not definitively ruled out the formation of a judicial commission – or as he put it, had not put a "red cross” on the possibility.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui addresses the Senate on October 17, 2024.
Senate of Pakistan / Facebook
He noted the existence of a working paper that could serve as a basis for further discussions, adding that only Prime Minister Sharif has the authority to dissolve the government’s negotiation committee, which currently remains intact.
The political crisis continues to deepen, with PTI announcing plans to observe February 8 as a Black Day and promising additional strategic actions in the coming days.
While senior government sources indicate that immediate prospects for dialogue appear limited, they say serious consideration is being given to PTI’s demands, suggesting the possibility of future engagement.
