Pakistan's opposition says inquiry commissions prerequisite for talks

Pakistan's main opposition party has submitted a list of demands for negotiations with the government, prioritizing the release of its leader, Imran Khan, as the top agenda item.

“Our leader Imran Khan and thousands of our supporters have faced unjustified imprisonment, the people of Pakistan have had their vote subverted and their voices and their bodies subjected to assault,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said as it presented its demands in writing at the start of the third round of talks which began on Thursday.

After the talks, Senate Opposition Leader Omar Ayub told reporters, "we discussed our demands in detail. I read them out to Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who listened to them, and we had a thorough discussion."

When asked about his meeting with Imran Khan, Ayub dismissed suggestions of an unrestricted meeting. "That never happened. The meeting took place in a small room where we had our two 'angels' present, and there were other 'angels' too," he said, using a euphemistic reference to security personnel.

The issue of access to Khan has been a crucial point in the negotiations, with the PTI founder previously stating through party chairman Gohar that while talks should continue even without meetings, sustained access to him remains essential for any long-term dialogue.

'Government response timeline set'

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, spokesperson for the government's negotiation committee, announced that the government will provide a formal response to PTI's demands before January 31, setting a clear timeline for the next phase of negotiations.

"The reason we were asking for written demands was to ensure nothing is left ambiguous or unclear," Siddiqui explained during a media briefing. "Now we will examine what kind of commission they want and what conditions they have set, and respond accordingly. We weren't aware of what specific demands they would present in their written submission."

The announcement comes after weeks of back-and-forth between the government and opposition over the formalization of demands. Earlier, Siddiqui had criticized the PTI for delays in submitting written demands, noting that the commitment was initially made during the first meeting on December 23.

When asked about media reports suggesting PTI's Barrister Gohar and Ali Amin Gandapur had met with "important figures" in Peshawar – an apparent reference to military leadership – Siddiqui was dismissive. "I've told you before, whatever negotiations are happening externally have no connection to our process," he stated.

How previous talks fared

The first two rounds of talks ended without any significant resolution, with both sides unable to bridge their differences.

The first round on December 23 saw PTI delegation led by Asad Qaiser meet with government officials at Parliament House. The talks were positive, with the government agreeing to allow PTI leaders to meet Imran Khan in prison. The negotiations focused on two key issues: the release of political prisoners and formation of a judicial commission to investigate the D-Chowk firing incident.

The second round on January 2 stalled when PTI failed to present written demands as expected. Opposition Leader Omar Ayub insisted on consulting Imran Khan before formalizing demands, while Deputy PM Ishaq Dar emphasized the need for written submissions to advance negotiations. The government committee included senior figures like Rana Sanaullah and Raja Pervez Ashraf.

A day earlier, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said, “Imran Khan is a political prisoner; he should be released now. Hopefully, good news will be announced tomorrow.”

Imran Khan, the former prime minister, has been in jail since his conviction in a corruption case in August 2023. The PTI has consistently maintained that his imprisonment is politically motivated and a violation of democratic principles.

Key points for first commission

• Legality of Imran Khan’s arrest: Investigate the legality of events leading to and the manner of Imran Khan's arrest on May 9, 2023, including the role of the police and paramilitary Rangers in breaking into the Islamabad High Court.
• Post-arrest events: Examine nationwide events following Khan's arrest, focusing on how individuals accessed high-security locations and caused property damage. Review CCTV footage and investigate the absence of such footage where applicable.
• Treatment of detainees: Assess how individuals arrested in connection with the May 9 events were apprehended, detained, and released. Investigate allegations of human rights violations, including torture, and examine how arrest lists were compiled.
• Abuse of legal process: Review whether multiple FIRs were registered against the same individuals and if sequential arrests violated due process.
• Media censorship: Investigate instances of media censorship, harassment of journalists, and restrictions on reporting related to the incident.
• Internet shutdowns: Evaluate the legality and impact of government-imposed internet shutdowns during and after the unrest, and determine accountability.

Key points for second commission

• Investigation of November 24-27, 2024 events:
  • Examine incidents of live ammunition use and physical assault on protesters in Islamabad, identifying those responsible for excessive force.
  • Determine the number of casualties, injuries, and missing persons.
• Medical records and tampering:
  • Investigate the state of CCTV recordings in hospitals and medical facilities during this period.
  • Determine whether medical records were tampered with and if hospitals were pressured to withhold information about casualties and injuries.
• CCTV footage analysis:
  • Assess the state of CCTV footage along the route from China Chowk to D Chowk in Islamabad.
• Challenges in legal action:
  • Identify difficulties faced by individuals attempting to register FIRs or pursue legal action related to the events.
• Media and internet restrictions:
  • Review instances of media censorship, harassment of journalists, and restrictions on reporting.
  • Examine the legality and impact of government-imposed internet shutdowns during and after the unrest and establish accountability.
• Political prisoners:
  • The PTI calls for the federal and provincial governments to support bail or suspension of convictions for political prisoners identified by the PTI, including those linked to FIRs from May 9, 2023, or November 24-27, 2024, as well as other political events.