Govt's negotiation team became 'non-functional', says Siddiqui after talks ended

PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui Declares Govt’s Negotiation Team 'Non-Functional' After PTI Withdraws from Talks

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui announced on Saturday that the government's negotiation team, which had been engaging with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to ease political tensions, is now effectively "non-functional."

"PTI has rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer after unilaterally withdrawing from the negotiation process," Siddiqui, who served as the spokesperson for the government’s negotiation team, stated in a post on X. He added that it remains to be seen whether PTI would feel the need to return to negotiations.

The senator also criticized PTI’s plans to launch a new agitation movement against the government, warning that the party is heading toward a phase of violent protests.

His remarks follow the collapse of high-stakes talks between the government and the PTI, with the latter blaming the impasse on the government's failure to establish judicial commissions on the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, as outlined in PTI’s "charter of demands."

The negotiations, which began in late December amid escalating political tensions, have now stalled. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently proposed forming a parliamentary committee to resume talks, but PTI rejected the offer.

Meanwhile, the government has dismissed rumors of ongoing "backdoor talks" between PTI and the establishment.

In a separate statement, a National Assembly (NA) spokesperson refuted claims that Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had invited PTI for dialogue.

"Sadiq only stated that his doors are open to everyone," the spokesperson clarified, emphasizing that a formal invitation would only be issued if requested by either the government or the opposition.

"The role of the NA Speaker has been made clear—his chamber and the house remain open to any member," the statement concluded.