The story of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) holding talks with other stakeholders in power corridors has turned into a roller coaster with plenty of twists and turns.
PTI senator Shibli Faraz, considered a close aide to party’s defacto head Imran Khan, said on April 28, 2024, that the party is always ready to talk but only with those who have real power, hinting towards the willingness to talk to the establishment.
He then stated that the current atmosphere is not suitable for dialouge.
A week after Shibli Faraz’s remarks, incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan told journalists at Adiala jail on May 4 that his party will only be ready to talk with its toughest opponent- the security establishment.
Both these statements were enough to establish that PTI definitely did want dialogue, but only with the army.
In contrast, PTI Chairman, Barrister Gohar Khan had said on April 2024 that his party is ready to talk with everyone, including political forces, adding that a committee had been formed to negotiate with other political parties on multiple issues.
During a press conference held on April 29, Gohar said that PTI is not negotiating with anyone through the backdoor.
However, on June 12, multiple media outlets reported that former Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk with the government for the sake of the country’s development.
Moreover, PTI decided to choose Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai to negotiate with President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif to reduce political tension in the country.
Analysts say that either PTI has decided to include politicians in its sphere of powers that need to be talked to, or the security establishment did not agree to talking to PTI, leading the party back towards political powers.
