A group of US-based Pakistani doctors and businessmen, who have previously engaged in quiet diplomacy concerning Imran Khan, has returned to Pakistan as fresh efforts are underway to secure relief for the jailed founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), journalist Ansar Abbasi reported on Saturday.

The delegation, which reportedly met with Khan and a senior official during a prior visit to Islamabad a couple of months ago, arrived this week and is currently in Lahore, according to the report.

It said the delegation did not manage to secure a meeting with Khan during that visit, nor was it confirmed if any interactions had taken place with key officials. The following week was viewed as critical for their potential engagements.

These visits are understood to be part of ongoing unofficial channels through which PTI sympathizers and figures from the diaspora are attempting to influence developments regarding Khan’s legal and political future. Despite some informal contacts in recent months, no significant breakthroughs have been reported.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the success of these efforts depends not only on political negotiations but also on the conduct of Imran Khan and the PTI’s social media wing. The messaging from the party’s international chapters, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, plays a crucial role as well.

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Back-channel contacts underway between PTI and govt

The military establishment has repeatedly stated it will not engage directly with political parties, urging political forces to resolve their issues independently.

Nonetheless, some PTI leaders continue to pursue behind-the-scenes contacts with key officials, despite publicly denying such engagements.