Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s failed PTI talks remarks became a key point of discussion
after he addressed the Senate about unsuccessful negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI). Naqvi said the federal government had followed the Constitution and was not responsible
for the failure of the talks. He responded to concerns raised by Senate Opposition Leader Raja
Nasir Abbas. The minister also asked the opposition to identify any constitutional provision that
the government had violated during the negotiations.

Naqvi said the discussions at Parliament House began with counterterrorism and national
security concerns. According to him, PTI leader Asad Qaiser had shown willingness to
cooperate. However, the government asked PTI representatives to consult the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa government before moving forward. Naqvi explained that the provincial chief
minister was invited to the discussions because security matters required coordination between
federal and provincial authorities. He also expressed concern about police officers and security
personnel who had lost their lives.

The interior minister said the government had accepted six proposed changes despite
disagreements over the fourth paragraph. He added that the opposition later said PTI leader
Murad Saeed would respond to the proposals. Naqvi also claimed that authorities had evidence
of contacts and financial transactions between terrorists and some PTI members. These
allegations were presented as the minister’s claims and were not independently verified in the
supplied report.

Naqvi further stated that permission had been given to record a meeting with PTI founder Imran
Khan using Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s mobile phone. He said the demands raised during the
meeting had been accepted, while the opposition reportedly planned to record the meeting the
following day.

Naqvi maintained that the government had invited the opposition to talks because it wanted
peace and stability. He rejected responsibility for the negotiations failing, while the two sides
continued to offer different explanations for the outcome.

Source: News Report

Fatima Khan