Imran Khan agrees to 'negotiating with establishment': report

Jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan has agreed to "negotiating with the establishment", and in this regard, assigned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur as well as KP government adviser Barrister Saif the responsibility of seeing it through.

Reports quoted sources as saying that the development came after CM Gandapur and Saif convinced the incarcerated leader to engage in talks with the establishment, and the potential negotiations would remain confidential until any progress was made. A second meeting between Khan and Gandapur is expected in the coming days.

It may be noted that the claims come a day after the KP chief executive, who was earlier reported to be the messenger between the jailed ex-PM and establishment, met Khan at Adiala Jail on Wednesday after over a month. The meeting continued for two and a half hours as the two leaders discussed institutional confrontations and criticism of party leadership on social media. CM Gandapur also briefed Khan on provincial matters.

Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has dismissed reports about the meeting, saying that false claims were being circulated. "No one went to convince the PTI founder to negotiate," he told a private media outlet, rubbishing claims that Khan had tasked anyone with talks.

He condemned efforts to twist facts for the government's benefit and clarified that Khan's discussion with Gandapur revolved around provincial government and party-related matters.

"Gandapur will present Khan’s directives before the party's political committee," Akram added.

Days earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had also dismissed speculations about a deal with the establishment, clarifying that the party had "simply reestablished contacts".

It is pertinent to note that this isn't the first time PTI-establishment talks have been reported, as they were also speculated in January following a meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and top PTI leadership.

Said reports have repeatedly drawn mixed reactions from party workers and the general public alike over confusion within PTI quarters over its policy towards the government amid rhetoric hitting out at state institutions.

The divide has also repeatedly been highlighted by political analysts, who maintain that the contradictory statements by different leaders of the troubled party only further tarnish its image following a countrywide crackdown rooted in "politics of agitation".

The PTI, on the other hand, continues to plead innocence. It also says that jailed Khan has the final say on all party-related matters.