ISLAMABAD: While the government has once again invited the main opposition party, PTI, to begin negotiations, the party has linked any dialogue with improved meeting facilities and access to medical care for its founding chairman, Imran Khan.

Aamir Dogar, the PTI’s Chief Whip, met National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr Fazal said the government had once again offered talks at the venue proposed by PTI within Parliament House. “The ball is now in PTI’s court,” he said, expressing hope that the opposition would respond positively.

He recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier offered dialogue to the opposition, but PTI had not responded.

Aamir Dogar meets NA speaker, minister in Parliament House

He said negotiations were the only way to resolve political issues.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, while talking to Dawn, confirmed the meeting but said the situation was not as simple as presented by the government.

He claimed the National Assembly session was scheduled to begin on Aug 7, but PTI had not received any formal intimation regarding it. He added that Aamir Dogar approached the National Assembly Secretariat to inquire why the party had not been informed about the session.

According to Mr Akram, the secretariat informed Mr Dogar that the NA session had been delayed until Aug 17, alleging that the government did not want to bring the ongoing tensions and allegations between the PML-N and PPP into parliament.

He said the National Assembly Secretariat later informed Mr Dogar that Speaker Sadiq wanted to meet him. During the meeting, the speaker also invited Dr Fazal and conveyed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had twice offered dialogue, but PTI did not respond.

Mr Akram said PTI made it clear that negotiations could not take place unless a conducive environment was created. He said the party had demanded permission for meetings with Imran Khan and access to his personal doctors. “Otherwise, we cannot sit with the government merely for photo sessions,” he added.

He said the speaker also suggested that PTI join parliamentary standing committees; however, the party conveyed that any decision on the matter would be taken by Imran Khan.

Mr Akram said the government now had to respond positively if it wanted negotiations to move forward.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2026