Both the government and the PTI on Friday denied any alleged offer made to shift former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala jail to Banigala or anywhere else amid ongoing negotiations to lower the political temperature.
Since Imran’s imprisonment last year, in several cases, the PTI’s relations with the government and establishment have deteriorated dramatically, marked by protests that frequently escalated into violence amid state repression.
Following the agitation, Imran set up a five-member committee to hold talks with “anyone”, signaling a change in the stance of PTI lawmakers in Parliament. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also formed a committee with members of the ruling coalition.
The first meeting between both sides took place on December 23, while the second took place yesterday (January 2). The two sides have so far failed to make significant progress as PTI leaders sought frequent meetings with Imran to finalize their list of demands. The government and opposition will meet again, possibly next week.
Amidst the scene, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry claimed that Imran said that he was offered a deal to shift him to his residence in Banigala. Rumors about the alleged event are also circulating in the media. Imran’s sister Aleema Khan similarly said last month that she had rejected offers of house arrest in Banigala.
Addressing the topic in an interview DawnTV News Speaking on ‘Doosra Rukh’ today, PTI president Advocate Gohar Ali Khan said Imran had “categorically stated” that his imprisonment was illegal and that he would reject any offer to be transferred elsewhere.
“Khan sahib He’s not going to give in on that. “We have not received any offer to transfer him nor will we consider them.”
Apparently referring to talks with the establishment, Gohar said the party had no underground contacts, although there was a period before the November 26 protests in Islamabad when “we had good contact established but since then there has been nothing.” .
He clarified that in the aforementioned case only contact was established and both parties were moving in a “positive direction” and he did not mean that negotiations began.
“The current negotiations are the only ones ongoing. We have no backdoor channels and this committee of ours is the one that is engaging in conversations,” he said, referring to the team created to talk to the government side.
“In politics it is never too late to discuss an issue,” Gohar said.
Questioned about disrupting the progress of the earlier contact, Gohar said Imran’s overnight arrest in another case despite him being granted bail had “played a role” in the matter.
He said the PTI was “back to square one, so if this committee can move forward, it will be a success.”
When asked about PM’s aide Rana Sanaullah’s statement on the participation of leaders of the three big parties at the table, the PTI president termed it an “ideal situation” but said it was unlikely given to “deep-rooted political differences.
“Maybe there will come a time when we can all sit at the table,” Gohar said. “However, for the moment we have ruled it out. For the moment we want the committees to focus on the ongoing negotiations.”
Meanwhile, questioned about any “offer” from the government to the PTI while speaking in an interview in DawnNewsTV Speaking on ‘InFocus’, PML-N senator Irfan Siddiqui said none had been provided.
When asked about Banigala’s alleged offer, Siddiqui said it should be asked of Imran himself, adding that no member of the government’s negotiating team had made such an offer in their personal capacity or said anything of the sort.
He said nothing of this had come up in the two rounds of meetings between the government and the PTI. “As far as I know, no such offer has been made by the government or any sector,” Siddiqui added.
The PML-N senator said Imran should provide proof for his claim.
