Following its meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, the PTI negotiating committee on Thursday said it wanted ongoing negotiations with the government to reach a “logical conclusion” of here on January 31, 2025, reiterating the “legitimate” demands of the judiciary. investigate the demonstrations of May 9 and November 26 and the release of “political prisoners” currently on trial.

“PTI founder (Imran Khan) is ready to forgive everyone for all the mistreatment he suffered for the sake of Pakistan,” Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza said in speaking to reporters after meeting the incarcerated former prime minister. .

PTI negotiators briefed Imran about the first round of talks, held on Monday, and consulted him on future strategy, sources said. Geo News.

After months of heightened political tensions, the embattled former ruling party and the government finally held their first round of dialogue this week.

The inaugural meeting, from the government side, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar and Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Farooq Sattar. .

Whereas, the PTI was represented by former NA President Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

The two sides are expected to hold the second session on January 2, when the PTI will present its demands in writing before the government panel.

The talks between the government and the PTI are taking place following the former ruling party’s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if its demands for the release of all political prisoners – including Khan – and the formation of ‘a judicial commission charged with investigating the May 9 riots and the November 26 incident was not satisfied.

The imprisoned former prime minister called on his supporters last month to launch the anti-government movement by initially withholding remittances.

Speaking to the media today, Hamid Raza slammed the authorities for subjecting PTI workers and supporters to torture, violating the sanctity of chadar and chardiwari parliamentarians and stole the party’s mandate on February 8, the day of the country’s general elections.

“Therefore, the first phase of the civil disobedience movement, the ‘remittance boycott,’ will continue,” he noted.

Secondly, he said, the timetable for the ongoing negotiations with the government is January 31, adding that they want to bring the negotiations to a logical conclusion before the deadline. “Omar Ayub, who is leading the negotiation process, will brief the government committee on the schedule on January 2,” he added.

Furthermore, he said, Imran was ready to forgive the mistreatment he suffered, including the assassination attempt, for the sake of Pakistan.

The SIC chief said the PTI founder expressed confidence in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and its Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, while calling the parliamentarians “his pride” for “confronting fascism and standing firm “.

Talking about the Kurram issue, Hamid said, Imran held in-depth talks with KP CM Gandapur and MWM chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and stressed that the issue should be resolved quickly.

He reiterated the PTI’s demands, saying the opposing side was accusing the former ruling party of orchestrating the riots. “However, we categorically deny these allegations… Therefore, a judicial commission should be established to impartially investigate the events and CCTV footage should be brought to the forefront,” he added.

Raza claimed that there were “specific elements” that incited the May 9 protesters to move toward “specific targets.” Referring to the November 26 protest, he also called for a judicial investigation into the crackdown, saying 13 protesters were confirmed dead while 64 others were shot and injured.

Finally, the SIC chief said, they do not want Imran released “as a result of the deal.” “We want the release of the PTI founder in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” he added.

The first round of negotiations ended with the government accepting the former ruling party’s request to consult its incarcerated founder, who has been imprisoned in Adiala prison for over a year.

The current negotiations between the government and the PTI follow last month’s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if their demands were not met.