The federal government has officially dismissed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) request for establishing a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, citing legal and procedural limitations, according to a report by News on Monday.
Sources within the government revealed that a negotiation committee reviewed PTI’s written demands, submitted during the third round of talks, and decided against forming the commission.
Officials argued that ongoing court proceedings related to the May 9 incidents made additional investigations unnecessary.
“Judicial commissions cannot be formed for issues already under active legal proceedings,” a senior official stated, rejecting PTI’s allegations of unlawful detentions and political prisoners.
PTI’s demands included forming two commissions under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017. One commission was proposed to examine the legality of Imran Khan’s May 9 arrest and its surrounding circumstances, while the other was intended to investigate the subsequent violence, including attacks on military facilities, desecration of monuments, and damage to public property.
PTI also called for public and media access to the commission’s proceedings and the release of detained political leaders and activists.
The government firmly stated that the May 9 incidents were part of a “premeditated plan to target military establishments,” emphasizing the attacks on the General Headquarters and the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence.
It characterized the acts of vandalism and arson as deliberate attempts to weaken state institutions, rather than spontaneous protests.
Officials confirmed that the government’s negotiation team would provide PTI with a formal written response in the fourth round of talks.
However, the rejection of a judicial commission is likely to exacerbate tensions. PTI had issued a seven-day ultimatum for the commissions’ formation, warning that talks would cease if progress was not achieved.
“If the government does not form the commission, there will be no fourth meeting,” PTI representatives warned.
Despite reports suggesting a finalized government response, Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the negotiation team, denied these claims, describing them as “baseless.”
On social media, Siddiqui clarified that coalition parties were still deliberating and that a unified response might take another week to finalize. He urged media outlets to avoid spreading misinformation and reiterated that no premature decisions had been made.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on the progress of negotiations with PTI during a meeting in Jati Umra.
The meeting, attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, focused on key political and economic issues.
Nawaz Sharif emphasized the importance of prioritizing national interest in the discussions with PTI and called for unity in addressing the country’s challenges.
The PML-N’s official statement noted that the government’s economic efforts were yielding positive results, including a significant reduction in inflation. The statement also highlighted that the overall situation in the country was improving.