The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has indicated a willingness to engage in talks with the PML-N-led government, but with specific conditions attached. However, the PML-N rejected the idea of conditional negotiations, emphasizing that PTI must be held accountable for the events of May 9.
According to PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub, the party has shifted from its previous stance of only engaging with the country’s “real power holders” and is now open to dialogue with the government if certain conditions are met, including the withdrawal of cases against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other key party members.
In a televised interview on Friday, Ayub outlined PTI’s position, stating that the party is open to discussions if the government shows seriousness, creates a conducive environment, and drops the “fabricated” cases against its leadership. The cases in question involve Imran Khan, his wife, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omar Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhary, and others accused in connection with the May 9 riots.
Ayub further stated that PTI would be willing to discuss the government’s reform agenda, particularly concerning the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), if the conditions are met. However, he stressed that no productive dialogue can occur while Imran Khan and other party leaders remain in custody.
He also suggested that the government might be waiting for directives from external authorities before deciding on the dialogue, hinting at possible military influence. Ayub noted that meetings between Rana Sanaullah and Mahmood Khan Achakzai were merely formal and did not involve serious discussions.
Meanwhile, senior PML-N leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui rejected PTI’s conditional offer for talks, calling it a desperate attempt to find a way out of their legal troubles. He stressed that the government cannot arbitrarily drop cases of such significance, as they fall under the jurisdiction of the courts. Siddiqui reiterated that PTI must fight its cases in court and that the government will not entertain conditions related to their legal issues.
Siddiqui also added that if PTI wants to be part of the reform agenda, it should engage in the process within the assembly, dismissing PTI’s demands as irrelevant to the broader political landscape.
