By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has given the government a seven-day ultimatum to form a judicial commission to probe two violent incidents, a demand that could derail fragile talks aimed at easing the country’s deepening political crisis.
Khan, currently incarcerated, issued the ultimatum through his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who spoke to reporters outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Monday.
“We’ll not hold the fourth meeting with the government negotiating team if there is no judicial commission in the next seven days,” Gohar quoted Khan as saying.
The PTI is demanding a probe into the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 incidents, as well as the release of “political prisoners”. The party has presented its demands to the government’s negotiation committee in writing, with a three-page document signed by six opposition members outlining the party’s requirements for moving forward with the talks.
Talks between the PTI and the government began in late December to ease tensions, but have made little progress on key issues. The third meeting between the two sides was held on January 16, attended by six opposition members, including three PTI leaders, and eight government representatives.
In a separate development, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja warned that the party would abandon talks with the government by January 28 unless it is allowed to meet with Khan.
Raja said the government had refused to permit a meeting with Khan, despite requests. “We asked to meet him alone, without state officials present, but it’s not happening,” Raja said.
Raja warned that if the meeting with Khan does not take place, “I see talks ending on January 27 or 28”. He added that only Khan himself could extend the deadline.
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