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Thursday, January 09, 2025  
08 Rajab 1446  

PTI committee may decide if it’s not allowed to meet Khan tomorrow, says Raza

Claims government has sought names of missing persons
Exclusive interview of Sahibzada Hamid Raza - Spot Light - Aaj News

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf negotiating committee would decide if it was not allowed to meet jailed former prime minister Imran Khan tomorrow (Tuesday), Sahibzada Hamid Raza said on Monday.

“If we are not allowed to meet Khan tomorrow then the committee may decide itself by holding a meeting,” he said while appearing on the Aaj News programme Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir.

The PTI committee could not meet Khan earlier in the day as it was expecting after the second round of negotiations. Last week, the government acknowledged the former ruling party’s demand for having a meeting with the PTI founder to discuss meetings.

Many experts have described the development as a “deadlock” between the two sides since the ruling coalition team has sought a written document to further the talks process.

“It was expected that we would meet Khan on Monday or Tuesday. It could not be arranged today, we hope it will be done tomorrow.”

He reiterated that the party has demanded access to Khan in the jail in an “uncontrolled atmosphere” where bugs are not installed. According to him, they want to discuss serious issues with Khan without any interference. He added that Thursday’s meeting with political leaders held after three months was about half an hour where things could not be discussed in detail.

Raza argued that as per the jail manual, the administration cannot install bugs inside.

When asked if the PTI would take to the streets if a meeting was not arranged with Khan, he replied in affirmative. “Yes, we can. It is an option.”

He added that the parliamentary party, political committee, core committee, and negotiation committee have given their recommendations over the last 15 days. “If talks are unsuccessful by January 31, then we will announce a new strategy.”

In response to a question, he said that the release of “political prisoners” and the judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 were the two main demands. “When we call for the release of political prisoners we want an end to bogus FIRs and victimisation,” Raza said and added that the government committee acknowledged the party’s concerns.

“There are some technical things which cannot be discussed publicly. But I will tell you that we have acquired medical reports of our 53 injured workers. It would not be safe if I name them.”

According to Raza, the PTI was working on legally pursuing the “killing of party workers on November 26” as victims’ families were receiving threats to keep mum over the cause of deaths.

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Raza was of the view that the government was under “moral pressure” over the November 26 protest. He denied that the party was having backdoor talks with anyone.

He ruled out a possibility that Khan would apologise for the May 9 events. “We demand a commission comprising senior judges on which no one has any issues.”

When asked if it would include Justice Aminuddin Khan, he said it would be discussed.

Raza revealed that the government has sought the names of 46 missing persons of PTI. “We want to put forward it to Khan. We will give names of our martyrs. My point of view is that we should have no objection to giving names of missing persons.”

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Sahibzada Hamid Raza