PTI Forms High-Powered Committee for Negotiations; Warns of Civil Disobedience if Justice is Not Served Regarding November 24 Events

Peshawar: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Umar Ayub, severely criticized the government and warned that if justice is not delivered regarding the events of November 24, the party will move towards civil disobedience. However, he announced the formation of a high-powered committee for negotiations.
During a joint press conference with PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Waqas Shaikh, and others in Peshawar, Umar Ayub emphasized that he had met with PTI founder Imran Khan on December 5, 2024. He shared that he was arrested from Adiala Jail, where the IG Punjab insisted on his detention. In response, Ayub announced that he would file a contempt of court petition in the Peshawar High Court.
The opposition leader expressed concerns about the peaceful protests, saying that while peaceful protests are a right, innocent and unarmed people had been martyred, with 12 of their workers killed, thousands injured, and over 200 missing. He accused the current government of being fascist, claiming that bodies were hidden from hospitals, and individuals were coerced into stating that injuries were the result of accidents. He also mentioned that over 5,000 people had been arrested.
Umar Ayub reiterated that the country was experiencing state terrorism, with people being abducted from their homes. He pointed out that the Coalition Support Fund, provided to Pakistan after 9/11, was allegedly used against PTI workers on November 24 and 25. He claimed that American-made sniper rifles and automatic snipers were used against peaceful civilians.
He further stated that PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Ali Amin Gandapur, Hamid Raza, and he himself would represent the party in negotiations. The high-powered committee was open to anyone who wanted to engage in talks. Ayub also called for the release of PTI workers and demanded an investigation into the November 24 incidents, emphasizing that if justice was not served, they would move toward civil disobedience.
Shibli Faraz: Engage the Committee Formed by PTI Founder
Senator Shibli Faraz urged the government to engage with the committee formed by PTI’s founder, saying that there was an atmosphere of uncertainty and artificial instability in the country. He stressed that Pakistan, a nation of 250 million people, required rule of law and dialogue to resolve issues, especially concerning terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also cautioned that young people should not be misled into taking the wrong path.
Asad Qaiser: Our Workers Didn’t Fire Any Shots
Asad Qaiser, another senior PTI leader, denied allegations that PTI workers had fired shots during the protests. He stated that their party would not back down from its constitutional rights and accused the government of sowing division and firing at peaceful citizens. Qaiser also criticized the government’s actions toward Afghanistan, claiming they had blocked trade with the neighboring country and portrayed PTI workers as terrorists.
The leaders of PTI are continuing to call for peaceful negotiations, while warning that any failure to address the grievances of their workers would lead to further escalation.