Govt to refuse PTI’s demand for judicial probe into May 9: report

In a massive blow to the ongoing negotiations, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government has refused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demand for the formation of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 incident, reports said Monday.

Reports quoted sources saying that the government had prepared responses to the PTI’s demands, which were finally handed over to the government in writing ahead of the third round of talks last week.

The government has raised objections to the demands, reports said and added that reason behind its refusal to form a judicial commission on May 9 was the fact that the matter was sub-judice.

A judicial commission can only be formed in cases that are not pending before a court, reports quoted sources as saying. They added that in case of May 9, several cases pertaining to the violence were being heard by different courts, whereas some accused had also been committed by military courts.

In reference to another demand of the PTI, the government will be seeking names and details of the party workers who have been “missing” and are believed to have been arrested in connection with November 26 protests. “How can any step be taken for their release without their names and other relevant information?” reports quoted sources as questioning in response to the demand.

In the government’s response, reports added, the PTI will also be asked to provide details of the alleged deaths that took place during crackdown on Nov 26 protesters in Islamabad.

Response to the PTI’s demands will be handed over to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq within a few days, upon which he will summon the fourth meeting between the negotiation committees of the government and opposition, reports said.

It merits a mention that the development comes days after the PTI, following party founder Imran Khan’s approval, submitted its demands to the government in writing. Earlier, the negotiations between the two sides had hit a roadblock amid government’s insistence and the PTI’s reluctance in doing so.

PTI’s first demand for headway in talks is the formation of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 and Nov 26 incidents that saw widespread violent protests, resulting in a crackdown on its supporters and leadership across the country.

The former ruling party’s other demands pertain to the release of political prisoners from jail and unearthing of facts surrounding the alleged death of party workers at the hands of law enforcement during protests.