Imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has reiterated that he has consistently kept the door open for discussions with the establishment, a fact confirmed by party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with the PTI founder at Adiala Jail, Gohar clarified that the former prime minister had previously declined talks solely with the current government, not with the military establishment.
His comments come amidst circulating media reports suggesting that Imran Khan, who has been in custody since August 2023, might be nearing a deal with the government following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation for dialogue.
Sources indicated that the cricketer-turned-politician had also instructed Gohar to proceed with such discussions, provided the process remains discreet and away from media scrutiny.
However, this development was promptly refuted by both Barrister Gohar and Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, with Gohar asserting that “no deal has been made” with any entity concerning the party’s jailed founder.
When contacted by The News, PTI Information Secretary Shaikh Waqas Akram stated that currently, there are no ongoing talks, including backchannel communications, between the PTI and either the government or the establishment.
Regarding questions about Imran Khan’s reported willingness to meet any representative of the establishment in Adiala Jail, Shaikh clarified that meetings within Adiala Jail are not managed or dictated by Imran Khan himself.
Addressing journalists today, Gohar conveyed that the PTI founder emphasized the crucial need for unity between the party and the Pakistan armed forces. “Imran stated, ‘The army is mine, and the country is mine.'”
He further added that the former premier commended the armed forces for their decisive response to Indian aggression, noting that the retaliation significantly boosted the nation’s morale and dignity.
Gohar reaffirmed that the PTI had already denied any rumors of supporting an in-house change. “We desire the country to move towards greater unity,” he added.
According to PTI sources, the former ruling party was considering the possibility of tabling no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, in collaboration with its opposition allies.
These sources further alleged that the PTI founder had directed the party’s leadership and allied opposition parties to advance with the planning of such a motion, granting them full authority to implement the strategy when deemed appropriate.
Nevertheless, the PTI chairman, just a day prior, had dismissed these media reports as “baseless and fabricated.”
Meanwhile, today, Gohar also mentioned that Imran Khan believed dialogue was essential and had advocated for it previously. “He underscored the importance of national solidarity,” Gohar stated.
Separately, senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja also addressed the media after meeting the PTI founder, confirming that Imran Khan was in good health.
“Our meeting was highly positive. He [the PTI founder] spoke extensively about the significance of internal unity and national cohesion,” Raja remarked.
According to Raja, the PTI founder commented that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had faced a defeat but might attempt further provocations.
“He [Imran] stressed that the nation must unite to confront any external threats and also work collaboratively to improve the economy,” Raja said, adding that the PTI founder expressed his readiness to contribute towards fostering national unity.
Responding to inquiries about future protests, Raja stated: “Peaceful protest is our democratic right, but no final decision has been taken yet.”
