The government and state institutions should directly talk to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to avoid any miscommunication and disconnection, PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan has said.

“We think Pakistan needs a consensus, dialogue and engagement between political forces,” he said while appearing on Rubaroo which was aired on Aaj News on Sunday.

Since Khan’s imprisonment last year on multiple charges, the relationship between the PTI and both the government and military establishment has soured significantly. The deterioration has been marked by protests that often turned violent amid government crackdowns.

In light of the unrest, Khan formed a five-member committee to engage in talks with “anyone,” indicating a change in the PTI’s parliamentary approach. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assembled a committee composed of ruling coalition members.

The first meeting between the government and PTI committees took place on Monday, marking the beginning of much-anticipated negotiations aimed at reducing political tensions in the country.

The PTI has set a January 31 deadline to finalise the negotiations. Earlier, Sanaullah indicated that the government would be willing to “accommodate such a request.”

Chan, who was close with Khan in PTI, said political forces should show “seriousness” amid the crisis.

“My personal opinion is that the government and state institutions should have direct contact with Khan. The dialogue with people leads to miscommunication and disconnection. Those who work on the agenda do not let real things come out. It will be better to have a direct talk with Khan.”

When asked, he agreed with the suggestion of Rana Sanaullah, the prime minister’s aide on political affairs, that Pakistan’s decades-old issues would be resolved if former premier Nawaz Sharif, PTI founder Imran Khan and President Asif Ali Zardari sat together.

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Chan was of the view that such a troika would resolve problems speedily. He added that the leadership should work on the national agenda. “When there is consensus on big issues then small issues are decided automatically.”

In response to a query, he said that President Asif Ali Zardari, often dubbed ’king of reconciliation, can play his role in politics only when all stakeholders keep him in confidence.

He was of the view that all political parties, including regional ones, should be taken on board on the national agenda.