Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, on Thursday urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to extend its “cut-off date” for negotiations with the government until February 28, after the former ruling party wasted 15 days in the process.
Speaking on the Geo News program ‘Naya Pakistan’, Sanaullah said: “PTI wasted 15 days themselves; now they should extend the deadline beyond January 31.”
The PTI’s negotiation committee had set January 31 as the deadline to reach a “logical conclusion” for the ongoing talks with the government, calling for a judicial inquiry into the May 9 riots and the November 26 crackdown, as well as the release of “political prisoners.”
Responding to a question, Sanaullah mentioned that the government had expected PTI to present their charter of demands in writing, but this was not done.
PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi emphasized that negotiations were essential not just for PTI but for Pakistan’s sake, warning that failure to reach a positive outcome could endanger the country’s democracy.
He also said that PTI had entered the talks sincerely and urged the government to proceed with sincerity as well.
Meanwhile, Sanaullah raised questions over PTI’s claim of 13 casualties during the November 26 protest in Islamabad and demanded that PTI produce eye witnesses to support their claim.
