Negotiations between the government and opposition have formally begun over the issue of references filed against suspended opposition members of the Punjab Assembly.

According to sources, the government has constituted a negotiation committee comprising representatives from multiple political parties.

The government’s committee includes Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Rana Arshad, Samiullah Khan, and Ahmad Iqbal.

Additionally, Ali Gilani from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Chaudhry Shafey from the PML-Q, and Shoaib Siddiqui from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) are also part of the committee.

On the opposition’s side, Leader of the Opposition Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar will represent the opposition in the talks.

He will be joined by PTI parliamentary leader Ali Imtiaz Warraich and PTI Lahore President Sheikh Imtiaz.

PTI is also expected to submit the names of Ejaz Shafi and other party leaders to the Speaker’s office for inclusion in the opposition’s committee.

Sources indicate that the opposition has been instructed to finalise and submit the names of its negotiation committee members to the Speaker’s office by the end of the day. The committee is expected to be fully formed later today.

The second round of negotiations is scheduled for Sunday, where further progress is anticipated on the issue of the reference against the suspended lawmakers.

If the talks proceed positively, the Speaker may consider withdrawing the reference, sources added.