Islamabad, Pakistan – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party has decided to withdraw from talks with the government aimed at defusing tensions that have dominated the country’s political scene for the past three years, raising fears of new street confrontations between the opposition party and law enforcement.

After three rounds of talks, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) placed the onus on the government to consider its charter of demands, which it agreed to. the introduction During the last dialogue on January 16. However, a week later on Thursday, PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan announced that the party would withdraw from the negotiations on instructions from Khan, who has been in prison since August 2023.

Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the former prime minister is being held, Ali Khan said the PTI founder had “categorically” instructed that there should be no further negotiations as the government had not agreed to set up judicial commissions to investigate the violence in Rawalpindi. Two influential days in the modern history of Pakistan.

“The government has made announcements but has not followed through on them yet, which is why Imran Khan has decided to end the negotiations,” Ali Khan told the media on Thursday.

However, government officials insist that they have not yet made any decision on the request for judicial committees. For its part, the government said that it has formed a subcommittee and is consulting with coalition partners participating in the negotiating team.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government committee, questioned the sudden decision taken by PTI to withdraw from the talks while consultations were still ongoing.

When did we say that we would not form a judicial committee? “We took these demands seriously,” Siddiqi said Thursday evening. “We had talks among ourselves. What PTI said about withdrawal is very unfortunate. I don’t understand what happened in these seven days,” he added.

“Continuous struggle”

Talks between PTI and the government began in December last year, aiming to calm the political tension that has gripped the country since April 2022, when Khan’s PTI government was ousted through a parliamentary vote of no confidence.

Three rounds took place, during which the “movement” presented a charter of demands, including the formation of two judicial committees and the release of “political prisoners.”

Ali Khan, who is taking over as PTI president in Imran Khan’s absence, stated that the party will continue the protests and engage with other political parties across the country.

He added: “We will continue our struggle in accordance with the constitution and the law.” We will start a movement in cooperation with all political parties.”

The two judicial commissions requested by PTI were intended to investigate incidents May 9, 2023and November 26, 2024.

In May 2023, former Prime Minister Khan was briefly detained in a corruption case in which he was eventually found guilty He was convicted last Friday.

During his brief detention, PTI supporters launched violent protests across the country, targeting public buildings, offices and military installations, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

In the aftermath, thousands of PTI workers and leaders were arrested, and more than 100 of them were tried in secret military courts. At least 80 were recently sentenced To three to 10 years in prison. Imran Khan also faces charges of incitement to rebellion and “terrorism” in connection with those events.

In November 2024, PTI launched a march to Islamabad, calling it the “last call” for Imran Khan’s release. However, law enforcement authorities dispersed the protesters, PTI claimed 12 workers killed By security forces in clashes, which the government denies.

“Starting out of nowhere”

The opening of the talks between the two sides was considered a positive step, raising hopes for a return to normal parliamentary politics at a time when the country faces increasing security challenges in the form of increasing attacks from armed groups.

Aqeel Malik, the government’s official spokesman for legal affairs, expressed his astonishment at PTI’s decision, describing it as a “shock that came out of nowhere.”

“We have agreed on seven working days, and our consultations have been continuing carefully on the demands made by the PTI movement, discussing them with coalition partners and seeking legal advice,” Malik said.

He added that there was no hesitation on the part of the government to accept the demands of the PTI movement but stressed the need to avoid hasty decisions. “There was no indication that we had decided to form – or not to form – a committee. “But PTI suddenly decided to withdraw on its own,” he added.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari described the talks as “fake” and accused the government of using them to buy time.

He added: “We launched the talks because our first and most important condition was the formation of committees. But if the government does not intend to do this, what is the point of continuing?” Al-Bukhari told Al Jazeera.

The UK-based PTI leader argued that setting up the committees would have been the easier step and suggested that the government’s reluctance showed malicious intent.

He added: “They were not at all serious about the talks from the beginning.”

“missed opportunity”

Analysts described PTI’s sudden exit from the talks as “unusual.” Political commentator Asma Shirazi said that by presenting the charter of demands, the PTI seemed ready to calm tensions, which made its withdrawal particularly disappointing.

“It is completely incomprehensible that they decided to abandon the talks, despite the progress they have made,” she said, considering that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party could have strengthened its position by forcing the government to exhaust all options.

“They had to wait for the deadline. If the government had failed, PTI would have had the moral high ground to pressure them,” Shirazi said.

Political analyst Talaat Hussein pointed out the difference in orientations between the two sides.

“For the government, the process has been gradual. But PTI expected breakthroughs in just a few rounds.

Hussein echoed Shirazi’s words and said that this was an opportunity to entrap the government, but the PTI movement rejected it.

“They could have tested the government by putting the ball in their court and waiting for them to act on the stipulated demands. If the government had failed to do so after the subsequent rounds, they could have said that the government is not serious, and we would withdraw. But they did not show patience.”

More excitement coming?

Since being removed from power three years ago, the PTI has organized frequent protest marches, often paralyzing the country by blocking roads and internet blackouts.

PTI leader Bukhari indicated that the party may return to the streets. “Our supporters are prepared to defend Khan, even at great personal risk,” he said, adding that the current “suffocating environment” in Pakistan required a solution.

However, Malik, the government spokesman, said the protests should remain peaceful.

“If they violate the Constitution through chaotic politics or violence, the government is well-equipped to respond,” he said.

Shirazi, the Islamabad-based analyst, said she expects PTI to return to unrest.

“PTI last tried to blackmail the government by imposing a blockade on Islamabad in November. Now with the Champions Trophy scheduled for next month, does this mean PTI will once again use it as a window of opportunity to sow chaos?” she asked.

Pakistan is expected to host the top eight cricketing nations in February, the first time it has hosted such a major event since 1996, when it co-hosted the Cricket World Cup alongside India and Sri Lanka.

Last year, the PTI movement also issued a call for a protest in Islamabad in October, coinciding with the election dates Shanghai Cooperation Organization SummitWhich took place in Islamabad. However, a day before the event, PTI decided to withdraw its call.

However, Hussain was not entirely sure that the PTI would achieve its goal by resuming street agitation.

“They cannot create more unrest than they have already done in the last two years. They have set a certain limit for getting people out on the streets and causing chaos. They need to match or exceed that level,” he said. “It will be interesting to see what path they take now. “