Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah: PTI Must Present Written Demands for Further Talks

Islamabad:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has stated that the committee formed by the Prime Minister for negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was likely established after consulting with both former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the establishment. He emphasized that before moving forward with any discussions, these key stakeholders were likely brought on board.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Rana Sanaullah said that during today’s negotiation session, PTI presented their demands. However, he noted that they had requested PTI to submit their demands in writing for further deliberation. “It is positive that after 10 years, the government and opposition are sitting at the same table. From the 2014 sit-ins to now, there hasn’t been a day of peace for the country,” he remarked.

**Rana Sanaullah on Government-PTI Relations: A History of Legal Disputes**

The Prime Minister’s Adviser also pointed out the importance of dialogue in a democratic setup, saying, “Differences of opinion are the essence of democracy. It’s not acceptable that the government and opposition cannot sit together, yet this has been happening since 2011.”

He also addressed the issue of legal cases between the government and PTI, stating, “If we have registered 200 cases against PTI, they have filed 250 cases against us. They were trying to get these cases dismissed, but we didn’t act with that intent.”

**Path Forward: Written Demands Expected by January 2**

Rana Sanaullah affirmed that the nation is united under one constitution, and everyone adheres to it. He stated that the negotiation process would progress once PTI submits their written demands. “On January 2, PTI will present their written demands, and then the discussions will move forward,” he said.

It is important to note that today’s round of negotiations between the government and PTI’s committees saw PTI demanding the release of Imran Khan and the formation of a commission to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26. The next round of talks is scheduled for January 2, 2024.