Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticized the PTI’s decision to call off the talks, stating that the government was considering a “middle way” by proposing a committee instead of a judicial commission.
“There is no need to set up a commission… we considered a middle ground to take things forward,” Tarar said during an appearance on a private news channel on Thursday. He accused the PTI of acting with “malicious intent” and of taking a “hasty decision”.
“Our response to PTI’s demands was forthcoming,” he said, adding that “comprehensive discussions” had been held on the matter. He further criticized the party, saying: “They should have found a legitimate excuse to prove that they had been victimized. Now the burden is on them.”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has called off talks with the PML-N-led government, citing its failure to form a judicial commission within the promised seven-day timeframe.
Addressing the media outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the decision was taken after Khan expressed frustration over the government’s inaction.
“The founder of PTI has categorically announced that no further rounds of negotiations will take place,” Gohar said. “Government made announcements but has yet to follow through, hence Imran Khan decided to end talks.”
The talks, which began in December 2024 to ease political tensions, have so far seen three meetings but made little progress.
The PTI had demanded the formation of two judicial commissions – one to probe the 9 May 2023 riots and another to probe the crackdown on PTI supporters on 26 November 2024 in Islamabad. The party also sought the release of “political prisoners”.
