ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on has established a high-level committee comprising senior members of the coalition government to hold dialogue with the main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The committee includes Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Aleem Khan and Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
The prime minister, on the other hand, formed the negotiating body on recommendation of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
Admiring Sadiq for his efforts in this regard, the prime minister expressed the hope that the national security and interest would be prioritised during the course of prospected negotiations.
“Our existence hinges on Pakistan’s existence,” PM Shehbaz said.
The development comes less than a day after the NA speaker confirmed reaching out to the premier for the formation of the dialogue committee, after assuring PTI of playing a role in mediation, which accused the government of not being serious about negotiations.
“I accept Barrister Gohar Khan’s proposal to form a negotiation committee,” he said.
Sadiq said that PTI chairman had acknowledged the speaker’s role as the custodian of the house and requested that he actively participate in the negotiations.
According to the sources, parliamentary committee will be entrusted with full authority to deliberate on key negotiation points and make decisions regarding government-opposition discussions.
The development took place amid looming civil disobedience movement by PTI, which says it will launch the first phase of the campaign today (Sunday) if their demands are not met.
