PTI Spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram Declares End of Talks with Government
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram has firmly stated that the negotiations with the government have come to an end, and the party has no intention of resuming talks with them. In an interview with a private TV channel on Sunday, Sheikh Waqas Akram made it clear that even if the government announces the formation of a judicial commission, PTI would not be interested in initiating any talks.
He explained that while some reports may have suggested a conditional resumption of talks, especially from Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja, the official stance of the party remains that negotiations are over. He emphasized that political negotiations would now be handled by the opposition committee spokesperson, Hamid Raza Khan, and not by him or any other party member.
Waqas Akram further criticized the government, stating that they were never serious about the negotiations. According to him, the government had one task: to form a judicial commission, but it failed to do so, leading to the collapse of the talks. He also mentioned his previous experience in handling committees, suggesting that the government avoided including him in any committee due to his known stance and approach.
Regarding the recent developments, Sheikh Waqas Akram explained that the decision to end the negotiations was not taken in haste. The delay in forming the judicial commission was a key factor in the party’s decision. Despite waiting for seven days for a response from the government, the situation remained stagnant, with the government failing to act promptly.
He also referred to a recent incident involving the raid on a madrassa by the Sunni Ittehad Council, which occurred just hours before a potential breakthrough in negotiations. Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that if the government were to issue a notification for the judicial commission, PTI would consult with party leader Imran Khan and follow his instructions regarding the next steps.
