Efforts to reach a breakthrough in the ongoing discussions between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have stalled. Sources close to the talks revealed that Imran Khan, the founder and jailed leader of PTI, demanded his release from prison by Friday in exchange for calling off the planned protest march to Islamabad on November 24. However, the government did not agree to this demand.
While the government offered some assurances of potential relief for Imran Khan in the future, the former prime minister rejected these terms. The government then proposed that PTI hold a rally at Sangjani and peacefully disperse on the same day, with the hope that this could pave the way for future negotiations.
Key PTI leaders are continuing discussions behind the scenes, with one senior party member stressing that Imran Khan’s immediate release is crucial to calling off the protest. Meanwhile, a federal minister, speaking anonymously, indicated that the government had urged PTI to publicly announce their willingness to engage in formal talks and, in doing so, to cancel the planned protest.
The government source noted that while most senior PTI leaders are in favor of dialogue, Imran Khan remains determined to proceed with the protest march on November 24, despite not consulting his party leadership beforehand. The source emphasized that formal dialogue and the protest cannot happen simultaneously. If PTI announces its intent to engage in talks, the government would form a committee for formal negotiations.
The informal discussions between the government and PTI were reportedly initiated by the party, although Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister’s Adviser on Information, Barrister Saif, suggested the initiative had come from the government. He confirmed that there has been no significant progress in the talks since the previous day, and the discussions are currently at an impasse.
Barrister Saif also pointed out that if the government is serious about dialogue, it should publicly invite PTI for formal negotiations. He added that Imran Khan had already appointed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as his representatives for meaningful talks. Saif emphasized that the government should complement its offer with confidence-building measures, such as releasing some jailed PTI leaders.
In the ongoing informal talks, PTI has reportedly demanded the immediate release of Imran Khan or his transfer to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a precondition for progressing with discussions. Imran Khan himself confirmed receiving an offer from senior PTI leaders to postpone the November 24 protest, with assurances that "everything would be alright" if he accepted. Speaking from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, he expressed disappointment over the lack of action on his release, despite the approval of his bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Imran Khan described the talks as an ongoing process but criticized the government for not taking concrete steps. He accused the government of wanting to delay the issue and prolong the situation by keeping him implicated
