A group of US-based Pakistani doctors and businessmen, who were previously involved in discreet diplomatic overtures concerning Imran Khan, have returned to Pakistan amidst renewed endeavors to secure respite for the incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This delegation, which reportedly engaged with a senior official and Imran Khan during a prior visit to Islamabad a couple of months ago, arrived this week and is currently in Lahore.
However, sources indicate that the delegation has not yet succeeded in arranging a meeting with Khan during this visit, nor is it confirmed if any interaction has occurred with key officials. The upcoming week is considered crucial for their engagements. These visits are understood to be part of ongoing informal channels through which PTI sympathizers and diaspora figures are attempting to influence developments pertaining to Imran Khan’s legal and political prospects.
Despite some informal contacts in recent months, no significant breakthrough has been reported. According to sources familiar with the situation, progress in such efforts is contingent not only on political negotiations but also on the conduct of Imran Khan and PTI’s social media operations, as well as the messaging emanating from the party’s international chapters, particularly those in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The military establishment has consistently affirmed its stance against direct engagement with political parties, instead urging political forces to resolve their differences internally. Nevertheless, some PTI leaders continue to pursue clandestine contacts with key officials, despite publicly denying such interactions.
Sources suggest that Imran Khan and PTI’s persistent criticism of the military leadership through their official social media accounts and affiliated international chapters has been a major impediment to any potential reconciliation. Campaigns targeting the military, the dissemination of alleged misinformation, and international lobbying efforts—including attempts to sway Washington and London—have reportedly exacerbated relations.
Some within PTI’s second-tier leadership privately acknowledge that these aggressive tactics have detrimental consequences for the party’s outlook, particularly efforts aimed at seeking leniency or relief for Khan. There is a growing internal consensus that the party must temper its confrontational stance, especially on digital platforms, to facilitate meaningful dialogue and mitigate institutional friction.
Observers believe that any improvement in PTI’s political fortunes—and notably, the alleviation of Imran Khan’s “sufferings”—will depend on the party’s ability to adopt a constructive approach, avert economic disruption, and cease attacks on state institutions. With the delegation of overseas Pakistanis once again seeking to engage authorities, political analysts are closely monitoring whether these endeavors signify a new phase of reconciliation or yet another squandered opportunity for the PTI.
