PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has accused Defense Minister Khawaja Asif of deliberately sabotaging the ongoing negotiation process between his party and the federal government.
In an exclusive interview with a private TV channel, Sheikh Waqas Akram emphasized that the current talks were not aimed at securing a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), but rather at seeking justice for the unjust imprisonment of PTI leaders.
“We are not asking for any deals; we are demanding justice,” he reiterated, highlighting that the discussions are centered around addressing the events of May 9 and November 26, with the goal of resolving the country’s political crisis.
Akram explained that PTI had been forced to engage in talks with people they would typically avoid, all in the national interest. Despite this, he stressed that the ultimate goal of the talks is to restore stability in the country. “Our focus is to end the instability plaguing Pakistan,” he said.
While Akram acknowledged the formation of a negotiating committee and the initiation of talks as positive steps, he made it clear that the true measure of trust and commitment from both sides would be evident in the days to come. “In a few days, we will know who is genuinely committed to resolving the situation,” he added.
Despite being involved in the talks, Sheikh Waqas Akram expressed discomfort about shaking hands with certain individuals, but he emphasized that the responsibility for the discussions lies with the designated negotiators.
Following the first round of talks, the federal government committee called for a charter of demands from PTI. The meeting, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, included government representatives such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Irfan Siddiqui, Aleem Khan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Farooq Sattar. The PTI’s negotiating team included Asad Qaiser, Hamid Raza, and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, with Salman Akram Raja expected to join the talks soon.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur missed the first round of talks due to his participation in a cabinet meeting, while Opposition Leader Omar Ayub was absent due to a court appearance.
