Journalist quotes ‘powerful person’ as seeing no headway in govt-PTI talks

Prominent journalist Muneeb Farooq has quoted a “powerful person” as saying that the ongoing negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will bear no fruit without former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan admitting his mistakes.

“PTI has only one demand and that is the release of Imran Khan from jail. Their other demands do not hold any significant importance […] Khan wants to come out of jail without any restrictions,” the journalist said in a video on his YouTube channel.

He quoted the “powerful person” as saying that PTI’s chances would improve if Khan “took ten steps back” and “admitted his past political mistakes”.

Without revealing much details regarding the nature of his source, Farooq said that they did not belong to the incumbent government.

Separately, the journalist also talked about incoming United States (US) government’s anticipated support for Khan. Commenting on PTI workers and leaders’ claims that President-elect Donald Trump would push for the party founder’s release, Farooq said that it would instead make things worse for the jailed leader.

“If Trump pressurises [Pakistan] regarding Imran Khan, the state of Pakistan shall not be lenient and instead be even harsher on Imran Khan,” reports quoted him as saying.

It merits a mention that PTI has so far put two key demands in talks with the government. These include the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, events, whereas the other demand is to release all political prisoners, including party founder Imran Khan.

The dialogue between the opposition party and the government was initiated two weeks ago. However, a significant development is yet to come despite two rounds of negotiations over the past couple of weeks.

According to reports, the major hurdles so far are the PTI negotiators’ lack of access to jailed Khan and the party’s unwillingness to share its charter of demands with the government in writing.

PTI chief Barrister Gohar, while talking to media outside Adiala Jail on Monday, said that It was necessary to meet Khan before the third round of talks.

“Hopefully we will be able to meet Khan tomorrow,” he said, however, there hasn’t been an update in this regard as of yet.

Meanwhile, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who is also a member of the opposition’s negotiations committee, maintained that the government was in a hurry to shift Khan from Adiala Jail.

The government continues to rubbish all claims regarding Khan’s possible transfer, including reports of an offer to shift him to his residence in Bani Gala under house arrest.