The federal government committee has “agreed in principle” to grant Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders access to meet incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan in jail, one of the members of the PTI committee said on Monday.
“The government agreed with our stance that we cannot make any decision without consulting Imran Khan,” Sunni Ittehad Council leader Sahibzada Hamid Raza said while appearing on Aaj News programme News Insight with Amir Zia via video link.
For the first time since the February 8 general elections, the government and opposition sat together to defuse political tensions.
Khan’s party participated in the meeting without its party’s bigwigs as most of them were busy with court appearances. PTI leader Naeem Haider Panjutha also mentioned this when he appeared on Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir.
Many described the negotiation as the first round of talks, however, the former ruling party called it an informal meeting because central leadership was missing. According to the PTI, the meeting was not delayed despite their request.
When asked about the confidence-building measures, Raza stated that there was no such agreement. He confirmed that they were discussed. Khan’s party wants the release of “political prisoners”, an end to political victimisation and no harassment of any leader or worker.
He was hopeful of any positive outcome from the discussion despite a “90-degree [big]” difference between the two sides. Raza reiterated that the demands, including the release of Khan and other party’s prisoners, and a judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 are possible “if the government desires”.
He called for an end to the trend of “political victimisation”.
In response to a question, the SIC leader said that the government neither rejected nor accepted its demands. “But its attitude shows seriousness.”
At one point, he asked if the government could start talks without the establishment’s consent.
“We are not here to play talks. Meetings will be held regularly and it won’t be delayed,” he said and added that matters would be discussed with Khan.
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Raza said that the civil disobedience movement would continue and only PTI founder Khan would make any final decision on it.
Earlier this month, the former prime minister had threatened a civil disobedience campaign starting December 14 unless his requests regarding the release of political prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26 were fulfilled.
His sister, Aleema Khanum, stated last week that Khan would urge overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittances if his demands went unmet.
When pressed, he said: “The civil disobedience started today with its first phase of boycotting remittances. It [Monday] was first working day. Just wait for a few days and you will see the results.”
He added that the opposition alliance leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai was on board and is being informed about all the developments.
