ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP):National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday held the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) responsible for the breakdown of talks with the government, saying negotiations should not have been abandoned.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he recalled that government representatives were seated in his chamber while opposition members were waiting in an adjoining room during the negotiations.
He said both sides had been hopeful of a positive outcome and expected an agreement to be signed.
“Everyone was happy that things were moving towards improvement and that the agreement would be signed,” he said.
Ayaz Sadiq recalled that when the opposition members came out, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Nasir Abbas expressed regret over the failure of the talks.
He said Allama Nasir was disappointed that the negotiations had failed and that he had to leave with a heavy heart. Other opposition leaders also left afterwards.
The speaker said he had urged the opposition not to close the door to negotiations and to return to the table. He recalled telling them that they could come back within five minutes.
He said several people present at the time, including Rana Sanaullah and other government representatives, could confirm that both sides had agreed to continue the talks.
Ayaz Sadiq added that opposition leaders had also agreed that dialogue should continue, but they faced difficulties in making decisions.
He said the opposition had entered politics with a public mandate and was expected to make its own decisions. However, consultations with other quarters had complicated the process.
The speaker stressed the need for transparency when discussing sensitive issues, particularly the facilities being provided to PTI founder Imran Khan in prison.
Responding to allegations that basic facilities were being denied to Imran Khan, Ayaz Sadiq said details of the food and other provisions available to him had already been shared with the relevant members.
These included breakfast, lunch, a milkshake and other meals, he added.
He said discussions about prison facilities should be based on facts and accurate information rather than unverified claims.
Ayaz Sadiq urged political leaders to keep communication channels open despite their differences. He said dialogue and mutual understanding were essential to resolving political disputes and building consensus.
Editorial note: The intro directly blames PTI for the breakdown of talks, but the body provided does not explicitly quote Ayaz Sadiq making that accusation. For strict accuracy, the headline and intro should reflect his recorded remarks unless the original speech or transcript confirms the stronger claim.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
