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Imran Khan Signals Readiness for Talks with Military Establishment
Former PM Imran Khan, speaking from Adiala Jail, sets conditions for dialogue with the military establishment. Key demands: return of PTI's 'stolen mandate', release of detained workers, and transparent elections.
ND
by News Desk
2024-07-31
Imran Khan Signals Readiness for Talks with Military Establishment

After days of speculation about a possible softening of his stance against the establishment, incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan categorically said on Tuesday that his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is ready for talks with the military establishment.

 

Speaking to reporters at Adiala jail, the PTI founder laid down three preconditions: the return of his party’s ‘stolen mandate’, the release of all detained party workers, and the holding of transparent elections.

 

Last week, Khan had raised eyebrows when he tasked his sister Aleema Khan and party leader Omar Ayub with ‘conveying messages’ to army chief Gen Asim Munir, asking him to ‘remain neutral’. The duo had passed on Khan’s warning that the Shehbaz government was trying to pit the army, PTI, and the public against each other. This move came as a surprise, given PTI's recent criticism of the army chief and the military, especially after the arrest of party spokesperson Raoof Hasan and other social media activists over allegations of ‘digital terrorism’.

 

On Tuesday, Khan stated that the country could be rescued from the ongoing crisis with a government that comes into power through free and fair elections. He mentioned that Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s proposal to resign from the assemblies was one of the options, though it would be considered at the appropriate juncture.

 

Khan announced that the party had nominated Mehmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), to negotiate on their behalf and urged the military to nominate their representatives for talks. He emphasized that PTI had never leveled allegations against the army, stating that even a spoilt child was liable to criticism. He also recalled historical grievances, 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.

 

Furthermore, Khan endorsed the stance taken by Jamaat-i-Islami over an unprecedented hike in utility bills and voiced support for Baloch activists protesting for the recovery of missing persons.

 

Government Reaction

The government did not take kindly to Khan's change in tune and accused him of pleading for talks with the army chief. Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said, “The self-proclaimed revolutionary who used to say that he won’t ask for forgiveness has come down to pleading to the armed forces to talk to him.” She advised Khan to apologize rather than seek an opportunity for talks, reminding him of the actions taken by his supporters, including damaging statues of army martyrs and attacking military installations.

 

Information Minister Atta Tarar termed Khan’s call for talks another conspiracy against the country, accusing him of trying to drag state institutions into his “dirty politics”. He highlighted the inconsistency in Khan's stance on the neutrality of institutions, noting his shift from 'I won’t let go' to 'Please talk to me'.

 

Both ministers criticized Khan for the political victimization of the Sharif family, with Tarar calling him a ‘brat’ and Aurangzeb branding him a ‘fascist’ who violates the Constitution for personal power.

 
Tagged:

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PakistanPolitics

Transparency

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