Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has excluded the “Give-and-Take” agreement, saying that conversations will only be held in Pakistan’s interest.
This was disseminated by Senator Ali Zafar after a recent meeting with the imprisoned former Prime Minister of Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi, where Imran Khan has been held since August 2023 on a number of charges, including corruption and terrorism.
“Imran said he is ready to negotiate for the sake of unity in the country,” Ali Zafar told journalists outside the prison, adding that the negotiations must be transparent, honest and strictly in the national interest – not for any personal gain. “
“If I wanted relief, I would have asked for it a long time ago,” Ali Zafar quoted Imran Khan to say.
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Imran’s statement came after his sister, Aleema Khan, called for dialogue through a “Give-and-Take” approach.
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Ali Zafar, who spoke to journalists, said IMRAN also renewed his demand for rapid justice in all legal cases against him and other PTI members and accused the authorities of deliberately delaying litigation. “I only want justice,” he said by quoting the former prime minister.
A few days earlier, Imran Khan had instructed the party to begin preparations for a larger nationwide movement against the current government.
Through his sister, Aleema Khan, the former prime minister conveyed that although he would not call supporters to Islamabad, the campaign would be launched over Pakistan.
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“Start preparing for a mass movement,” Aleema quoted his brother as saying. “I don’t want to call people to Islamabad, but we will start the movement over Pakistan.”
She said IMRAN remained defiant at what he called the state’s oppression, and promised to resist all kinds of torture and pressure. “Imran Khan has made it clear that even though he spends his entire life behind pillars, he will not surrender to submission,” she added.
Meanwhile, PTI rejected central information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Wednesday reports of ongoing negotiations with the government and said dialogue “does not work like this”.
By tackling a news conference, the party’s central information secretary clarified that PTI Foundation Chairman Imran Khan has refused to initiate conversations.
“You can’t drive dagger off hatred into someone’s breast and still expect goodwill in return,” he added.
He further clarified that the Negotiating Committee had been composed of IMRAN himself and that his participation was in his direction.
