Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI) has dismissed the media reports that claim that its imprisoned founding president, Imran Khan, agreed to initiate negotiations after an offer from the prime minister.
“It is true that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with the president of the PTI, lawyer Gohar Ali Khan, and the president later informed Imran Khan about it. However, the call was related only to current tensions with India and had nothing to do with political negotiations,” said PTI’s central information secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram. Sunrise.
Mr. Akram added: “I spoke with Mr. Gohar and confirmed that no negotiation offer was made during the call, nor did he transmit that message to Imran Khan.”
The media reports have suggested that Prime Minister Shehbaz had extended an invitation for conversations with PTI and that Imran Khan had not only accepted the offer, but also told Mr. Gohaha to continue, although with a condition to maintain the process outside the media care center.
Gohaha says that the former prime minister “will never reach an agreement”
According to the sources of the party, it was correct that the conversations could not be held during the presence of the media. “In the past, we try to have conversations with the government and Jamiat Ulema-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Mauula Fazlur Rehman, but due to the media speculations, the conversations could not reach a logical end. However, such an offer has not been made at this time,” said a party official.
The sources said that during the meeting between Mr. Khan and Mr. Gohar, other people, including Salman Safdar and Zaheer Abbas, were also present, which made it unlikely for confidential issues as negotiations that will be discussed.
Mr. Gohaha also rejected this development. Speaking with the media, he said that no agreement was made with anyone on the case of Imran Khan.
“This agreement has not been made. However, I believe that political problems must be addressed through dialogue. Khan Sahib, Kasim and Sulaiman’s children have also said that no agreement has been made. Both children are aware of the problems and are in contact with their father,” he said.
Answering the questions, Gohar said that the prime minister had given an offer of negotiations on the floor of the house, and Gohar had received it.
“I said we would ask Khan Sahib the party, and then we can answer. I have never shared Khan Sahib conversations with anyone in the registry or even out of the record,” he said.
He said that both children of Imran Khan gave a very good interview and shared what was in their hearts. “They are very close to their father and are in contact with him,” he said.
Mr. Gohaha insisted that Imran Khan “will never get to a deal and will never break.”
Posted in Dawn, May 16, 2025
