In a surprising turn of events, Imran Khan proposes negotiations with military leadership to address the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan. Speaking from Adiala Jail, the former Prime Minister laid out specific preconditions for these talks, emphasizing the need for the restoration of his party’s ‘stolen mandate,’ the release of detained PTI workers, and the conduct of transparent elections.
Mr. Imran Khan stirred controversy by instructing his sister, Aleema Khan, and party leader, Omar Ayub, to convey messages to Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, urging him to remain neutral. The duo, addressing the media, relayed Mr. Imran Khan’s warning that the Shehbaz Sharif government was attempting to create a rift between the army, PTI, and the public.
This development was surprising, given Mr. Imran Khan and his party’s previous criticism of the army chief and the military, especially following the arrest of party spokesperson Raoof Hasan and other social media activists on charges of ‘digital terrorism.’
Mr. Imran Khan asserted that the nation could be salvaged from its current crisis through a government elected via free and fair elections. He mentioned Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s suggestion to resign from the assemblies as a potential option, to be considered at the appropriate time.
The PTI leader revealed that his party had already appointed Mehmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), to negotiate on their behalf and urged the military to designate representatives for the talks.
Mr. Imran Khan clarified that his party had never accused the army, emphasizing that even spoiled children face criticism. He recounted historical instances such as Gen Ziaul Haq’s role in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s judicial murder and Gen Yahya Khan’s responsibility for the fall of Dhaka.
He also endorsed Jamaat-i-Islami’s stance on the unprecedented utility bill hikes and expressed support for Baloch activists protesting for the recovery of missing persons.
The government swiftly responded to Mr. Imran Khan’s shift in stance, accusing him of pleading for talks with the army chief. Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated, “The self-proclaimed revolutionary who vowed never to seek forgiveness is now pleading with the armed forces for a dialogue.”
She suggested that the former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should apologize instead of seeking talks, reminding him of the damage caused by his supporters to statues of army martyrs, the GHQ, an airbase, and the home of the Lahore corps commander on May 9, 2023. “Seek forgiveness from the families of the martyrs for the sins of May 9 [attacks],” she said, alleging that the desecration of martyrs’ memorials was part of an organized plan.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described Imran Khan’s call for dialogue as another conspiracy against the country and an attempt to drag state institutions into his “dirty politics.” He criticized Mr. Imran Khan’s shift from a stance of defiance to seeking dialogue, suggesting that it was driven by fear of stern action against him and his party following the raid on their social media cell.
Both Mr. Attaullah Tarar and Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb condemned the former PM for the political victimization of the Sharif family, with Mr. Attaullah Tarar calling him a ‘brat’ and Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb labeling him a ‘fascist’ who violates the Constitution for personal power.
