May 9 commission formation: Imran Khan gives seven-day ultimatum to govt

Amid reports of negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hitting yet another roadblock, former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan has given a seven-day ultimatum for the formation of a judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 incidents.

As per the details, the federal government has reportedly finalised its response to PTI’s charter of demands. In the response, the government is reportedly planning to refuse one of the opposition party’s two critical demands, which pertains to the formation of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 incidents.

Reacting to reports, PTI founder Khan has given the government seven days to form the commission for the ongoing dialogue process to continue, party chief Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said while addressing a presser outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.

On Monday, it was reported that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led 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 the 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.

Amid these reports, Gohar on Tuesday urged the government not to push ongoing negotiations into a delay.

Referring to a statement by the government's negotiation committee spokesperson, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who disapproved of the PTI’s meeting with top military leadership. “Negotiations cannot be conducted simultaneously through multiple channels,” he had said.

Siddiqui's remarks came after Gohar's confirmation about a "positive and direct" meeting between him, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur, and the chief of army staff (COAS) where they "presented all matters and demands of the party directly to General Asim Munir".

The incarcerated former premier had also confirmed to reporters regarding the meeting a few days ago, mentioning that his party had long been trying to get the other side on the negotiation table.

However, the PTI chief clarified that their meeting [with the army chief] was held on law and order situation, therefore, no one should create an issue on it.

"We want to continue dialogue with the government, however, we have a condition that a judicial commission should be formed," Gohar announced categorically to clarify PTI's stance after holding three rounds of talks with the government members.

He said that the incarcerated PTI founder told them not to hold the fourth meeting if a commission was not constituted within seven days, and added that his party was waiting for the government's progress in this regard.

The PTI lawmaker asserted that negotiations would be meaningless if the government failed to fulfil the opposition's demand for a commission.

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 to do 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.