• Self-styled ‘National Dialogue Committee’ says they will field names for negotiators in consultation with jailed opposition leaders
• Wants Zardari, Shehbaz and Nawaz to represent govt side
• Seeks freedom for political activities; urges appointment of Senate, NA opposition leaders
• Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan stays away from dialogue; leadership to visit Lahore for ‘mobilisation’

ISLAMABAD: As proposals for talks between the government and the opposition remain in limbo, a clique of politicians — under the banner of the ‘National Dialogue Committee’ (NDC) — on Wednesday called for the release of all political prisoners to reduce acrimony and pave the way for reconciliation.

The proposal came at a conference, organised by the newly formed NDC , led by former PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, and Dr Shahzad Waseem, in the federal capital.

Some of the political notables present at the event included former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar, ex-PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, and Jamaat-i-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch, among others.

The moot in the federal capital was the continuation of similar overtures, including a recent letter written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by former PTI leaders, asking him to engage the opposition.

These attempts, however, have not been successful, as the proponents hold little clout in the current set-up, and have even been described by some uncharitable observers as being “political lightweights”.

On Wednesday, these leaders once again pushed for reconciliation.

In a statement issued after the conference, they said the government and the opposition should form separate bodies for talks to reduce political tensions.

“The meeting agreed to the proposal to initiate a fruitful negotiation process and declared that, in this regard, the government and the opposition should form separate committees comprising their respective representatives, between which the dialogue process should be initiated,” the statement read.

President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may represent the ruling coalition in the talks, while the dialogue committee, in consultations with the PTI incarcerated leadership, will propose the names for the opposition committee following the government’s announcement.

It may be noted that the PTI had distanced itself from the group led by Mr Chaudhry after he started making efforts to reconcile his former party with the government and the powers that be.

The Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), a multi-party opposition alliance steered by the PTI, was also absent from the conference despite an invitation — a move that lends little credence to the NDC’s claim of representing the opposition.

PTI’s Asad Qaiser told Dawn that the PTI did not participate in the dialogue as a party. “It was an independent effort which should be recognised. It is a fact that there is a need for a new charter of democracy in Pakistan,” he agreed. The PTI leader, however, said the opposition party would continue its efforts on the TTAP platform.

Practical steps

In its statement also posted on ‘X’, the NDC leaders suggested that “comprehensive, concrete and practical steps be taken immediately for dialogue and confidence-building at the national level”. These included the immediate release of “political workers”, including PTI women leaders, who were behind bars and the quashing of cases against them.

“Restrictions on political activities should be lifted. Complete freedom of political activities should be ensured within the framework of the Constitution and law,” it said. The NDC also called for the appointment of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate — posts that have been vacant since August 7, 2025.

It further said that “censorship imposed on the media should be ended and restrictions imposed on anchor(persons) should be lifted”.

The moot also expressed concern over the “political unrest in the country, the economic difficulties facing the country and its people, restrictions on political activities and the media, and the challenge of terrorism”. “The government and opposition forces should not use the Pakistan armed forces for their politics and should not spread negative propaganda,” the statement added.

Speaking at the event, Awaam Pakistan chief Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said, “This is not an issue of Imran Khan’s release but of the country’s release. If the country is in the right condition, then Imran Khan sahib’s issue will get resolved too.” His party spokesperson Dr Zafar Mirza told Dawn that the former premier was representing Awaam Pakistan at the event.

TTAP top leadership to visit Lahore

Separately, a TTAP delegation is set to depart for a three-day visit to Lahore as part of the opposition’s “street mobilisation”, said a statement from the alliance’s spokesperson, Hussain Yousafzai.

The group includes TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, senior vice chairman Allama Raja Nasir, vice chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Secretary General Asad Qaiser. The TTAP leaders will organise “political and social meetings” in Lahore, the statement said, adding that the politicians will also hold meetings at Zaman Park, Imran Khan’s residence in the provincial capital.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2026