The release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan remains the primary focus of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demands in high-stakes negotiations with the government. According to a member of the ruling committee, PTI consistently pushed for his release during discussions on December 23 and January 2.
During the talks, PTI’s first demand was always Imran Khan’s freedom, followed by the release of other political figures like Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, and party workers. PTI is not asking for Khan’s house arrest but is seeking an executive order for his release, bypassing traditional legal channels.
The government committee, however, raised questions regarding the legitimacy of such a release, noting that no political prisoners were released through executive orders in the past. PTI had no clear answers to these queries, indicating that they lacked both a written strategy and the confidence to proceed without Khan’s direct approval.
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Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government negotiating committee, confirmed that PTI failed to submit the charter of demands in written form as promised during the meetings. The PTI representatives argued that they needed to consult with Imran Khan before finalizing the document.
Siddiqui also warned that if PTI fails to present the written demands in the upcoming rounds, the negotiations could face significant delays. He added that the government had facilitated the PTI team’s meetings with Khan but had no plans to move him to another location or fulfill further demands at this stage.
Despite these setbacks, PTI’s negotiation team emphasized that they sought Imran Khan’s release strictly within the constitutional and legal framework. This ongoing impasse illustrates the tensions within the talks, highlighting the challenges in resolving Pakistan’s political crisis.
