**LONDON:** Pakistan’s military has categorically ruled out the possibility of negotiating or striking a deal with Imran Khan, the imprisoned founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to senior military sources quoted by *The Guardian*.
The statement comes after Khan, in a recent interview, expressed his willingness to engage in talks with the military leadership, despite his ongoing imprisonment.
In a series of responses sent through his legal team, Khan confirmed that he had not had any direct contact with the military since his arrest in August 2023. However, he indicated that he would not rule out negotiating a deal with the military establishment, despite his earlier accusations that they were responsible for toppling his government and orchestrating his incarceration.
Behind closed doors, senior military figures revealed that Khan had been pressing for months to initiate discussions, offering “unconditional” talks in hopes of securing a deal for his release. However, the military is said to remain firm in its position, refusing to enter into any negotiations with the former prime minister.
“Khan must face the court cases against him and cannot expect any deals from the military,” one senior military source said. “He talks about following the rule of law, but he does not seem willing to accept it for himself.”
Khan, in his statement to *The Guardian*, reiterated that any engagement with the military would have to be based on principles and serve the greater good of the people, rather than being driven by personal interests or compromises that undermine Pakistan’s democratic values. He also made it clear that he would “rather live the rest of my life in prison than compromise on my principles.”
The PTI leader is facing over a hundred legal cases, which he has consistently described as politically motivated and trumped up. Despite this, Khan’s rhetoric towards the military establishment has become more measured in recent months, with his calls for talks growing louder.
The government has yet to announce whether Khan will be tried in a military court for some of the charges against him, though he has denied all accusations.
“How can any civilian be tried in a military court, especially a former prime minister?” Khan said. “It’s absurd. The only reason for trying a civilian in a military court is because no other court would convict me. The very idea of it is deeply concerning.”
