The speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, has said that neither the opposition nor the government have contacted him to call a meeting of the negotiation committees.

Sadiq added that he is ready to schedule the meeting at short notice if both parties make the request, Express News reported.

He added that the meeting could be convened within a day or two, but he had not been approached by any side so far.

He also clarified that it is not his responsibility to arrange a meeting between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiating committee members and the party’s founding chairman Imran Khan. He added that the government and its allies should decide whether the meeting can take place.

He stated that during a phone call on January 4, he had informed Asad Qaiser that he had conveyed the PTI’s request for a meeting to the government.

He added that PTI leaders could also engage in direct discussions with Rana Sanaullah or senior officials if necessary.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had earlier said that a meeting between the PTI founder and the government’s negotiating committee had been delayed due to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s absence from the country.

Now that Sadiq has returned, Gandapur stated that the meeting is expected soon, adding that individual discussions with Khan are underway.

After months of escalating political tensions, the coalition government and PTI initiated dialogue last month. The PTI’s preliminary demands included the release of all “political prisoners” and a judicial inquiry into the events of 9 May and 26 November.

During the second round of talks led by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the PTI sought more frequent access to Imran Khan to finalize a “charter of demands”.