Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai has warned that the ongoing talks between the PTI and the ruling government may come to an end if there is no progress in the judicial commission by January 31.

Yousafzai expressed her concerns in the wake of the repeated adjournment of the £190 million reference case, which had been adjourned for the third time, leading to growing discontent in the PTI ranks.

Addressing the media, he criticized the delays in the case’s verdict, which he said damaged the credibility of Pakistan’s judicial system.

Shaukat Yousafzai accused the government of using the legal process to buy time, stating that the ruling party was apparently seeking an “NRO” (National Reconciliation Ordinance) – an amnesty deal aimed at protecting certain political figures from corruption charges .

Yousafzai echoed the PTI’s position, stressing that the party would neither seek nor accept such a deal.

The PTI leader further suggested that the ongoing delays in the case were a clear attempt to undermine the justice system and prevent accountability. “It seems the government is delaying the matter for their own political gain,” he said.

“This is an affront to the judicial process and the judiciary must take strong action to restore faith in the system.”

Yousafzai also took aim at the ruling coalition, particularly Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He accused them of prioritizing business interests over governance, thereby exacerbating the economic crisis.

According to Yousafzai, the ruling government’s policies had caused significant economic strain on the country, leading to an increase in public suffering.

He cited the rise in national debt, including the controversial debt of Rs 27,000 billion accumulated over the last two years.

Yousafzai demanded an inquiry into the power purchase agreements (IPPs) and called for an investigation into the business interests of key politicians who, he claimed, had used their political power to strike “unfair” deals in the power sector.

“The country’s economy is on the verge of collapse because of these people,” Yousafzai said. “We need to expose those who have used politics as a cover for their business, especially in the power sector.”

He also criticized certain ministers for undermining the ongoing dialogue and suggested that their statements were being manipulated to derail the negotiation process. Yousafzai singled out former PTI leader and current government ally Faisal Vawda and accused him of making baseless predictions about PTI’s political future.

Yousafzai’s remarks come amid growing frustration in the PTI over the lack of tangible progress in talks with the government. The talks, initially seen as a potential path to political reconciliation, have struggled to get going, and key issues such as electoral reforms and the role of the military in politics remain unresolved.

In the face of growing uncertainty, Yousafzai made it clear that the PTI’s participation in the talks would depend on progress in the judicial commission on the £190 million pound case. He stated that if there were no positive developments by the end of January, the PTI would reassess its position and decide whether the talks should continue.

“We are hopeful that there will be progress, especially with the judicial commission, but if that does not happen, the negotiations will come to an end,” Yousafzai said. “Imran Khan will take the final decision on whether to continue the talks after January 31.”

Yousafzai’s comments highlighted the widening rift between the ruling government and the PTI, with both sides seemingly unable to bridge their differences. While the PTI has repeatedly called for legal accountability and reforms, the government has defended its handling of the economy and national affairs.

Despite the political tension, Yousafzai expressed one last hope: the role of Pakistan’s judiciary. He stressed that the PTI’s only remaining hope for a solution rested with the higher courts. “If the judiciary does not deliver, then only Allah can help this country,” he said, stressing the importance of judicial independence and justice in the face of political turbulence.

Yousafzai concluded by urging the judiciary to take a firm stand on the ongoing issues, asserting that it was their responsibility to restore public confidence in the country’s judicial system.