Former Sindh governor Imran Ismail has claimed that ex-prime minister Imran Khan had made some contact with the establishment when the PTI cancelled its August 22 rally in Islamabad.

“There is turmoil in PML-N circles, as the party believes that the purpose of this contact with the establishment is that if any negotiations take place and Imran Khan comes to an understanding, then it would be out of the political landscape,” he said while appearing on Rubaroo aired on Aaj News on Sunday.

The PTI postponed its Islamabad rally on Thursday, citing the government’s “conspiracy to spread chaos”. The party changed its plans at the eleventh hour, prompting ire from supporters and some party leaders.

The Islamabad district administration announced a holiday in government and private schools on Thursday, sealing the Red Zone, after the party decided to stage a rally despite not giving the NOC. Metro bus service in the twin cities had also been suspended.

Earlier this week, Khan told reporters in the jail that he postponed the rally due to concerns over potential unrest. When a journalist asked about a late-night message he had sent to Azam Swati and how he got the phone, Khan smiled and said: “Let’s leave that answer.”

Ismail went on to add that Khan has openly expressed his desire to engage in talks with the establishment, but so far there has been no strong response from the establishment.

“My political friends have suggested that if a national government is formed, with a timeline of one to two years, a national agenda is set, and transparent elections are held as part of this agenda, there is a possibility of improvement,” he said.

The former Sindh governor said that the rally was cancelled despite obtaining permission multiple times. He claimed that people’s trust in the party’s leadership was diminishing as they did not stand up to their claims.

According to Ismail, the PTI leadership was showing “weakness” and could not even sustain the hunger strike.

While speaking about the ongoing tussle over the Lahore rally, he said that Shaukat Basra was not in a position to announce or stop any rally. “Whatever Imran Khan has to do, he will do. We will see the message that comes from jail, and the picture will be clear in a day or two. But the leadership is currently confused.”

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PTI and Asif Ali Zardari

PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan had also joined the show via video link. When asked, he said President Asif Ali Zardari’s meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman could also be important in terms of legislation which cannot be ignored.

“Zardari is not our enemy, there are severe political differences, but if he is meeting for the sake of Pakistan or to resolve the current issues and if he is talking about true democracy, then it is fine. I don’t think we should refuse and I will talk to Imran Khan about it,” he said.