In a significant political development, the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) has welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to hold talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), calling it a positive step toward easing political tensions in the country.
However, the committee has stressed that meaningful progress is only possible if confidence-building measures are taken—starting with the release of senior PTI leaders currently behind bars.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the NDC, comprising Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, and Mahmood Maulvi, appreciated the government’s renewed willingness to engage in dialogue with the opposition. The committee emphasized that for the dialogue between PTI government to succeed, both sides must demonstrate seriousness and goodwill.
The NDC highlighted that sustainable negotiations cannot move forward in an environment of mistrust. To create a positive and productive atmosphere, the committee requested the release of key PTI leaders detained in Kot Lakhpat Jail on parole. These include Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, and former Senator Ejaz Chaudhry.
The National Dialogue Committee is of the view that these talks will be successful and sustainable if they
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) December 24, 2025
commence with meaningful confidence-building measures. In this regard, we humbly request that the senior
PTI leadership currently detained in Kot Lakhpat Jail—including Shah…
According to the letter, the presence of senior leadership is essential for effective participation and decision-making during talks. Without their involvement, the dialogue between PTI government risks becoming symbolic rather than result-oriented.
The NDC also urged all political parties to rise above partisan interests and focus on the broader national good. It proposed developing a consensus-based Charter of Democracy and Charter of Economy, aimed at ensuring long-term political stability and economic progress.
The committee warned that without practical confidence-building steps, any dialogue process would struggle to deliver lasting results. Trust, it noted, is the foundation of any successful negotiation.
PM Shehbaz’s conditional response
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had conditionally accepted PTI’s demand for talks. Addressing a federal cabinet meeting, he said the government is open to dialogue if the opposition shows genuine commitment to political stability and constructive engagement.
However, the Prime Minister made it clear that illegal demands or political pressure disguised as dialogue would not be tolerated, reaffirming the government’s stance on rule of law.
