PESHAWAR(The COW News Digital) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai has urged the government to allow party leaders to meet incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, saying such a meeting could help resolve the ongoing political crisis and open the way for dialogue.
Reacting to recent remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Yousafzai said the government should not conceal the facts surrounding the breakdown of talks between the government and opposition. He argued that the failure of negotiations was primarily caused by the government’s changing position and what he described as an inflexible approach.
Yousafzai maintained that PTI had never closed the door to negotiations and remained willing to pursue political engagement. He described the party’s ongoing long march as its constitutional, legal, political and democratic right.
According to the PTI leader, the march, being led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, has remained peaceful and successful since its launch. He said the government had no justification for taking what he termed unconstitutional or undemocratic measures against the provincial government.
Yousafzai said that if the government permitted a meeting with Imran Khan, the political leadership could discuss outstanding issues and potentially find a way forward. He also called for a review of the decision to end negotiations, pointing out that the government had taken the initiative to terminate the talks.
The PTI leader further warned that imposing Governor’s Rule or declaring an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could worsen the situation and make it more difficult to restore political stability.
He emphasized that peace and stability were particularly important for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province that, according to him, has faced terrorism and insecurity for around 25 years.
Yousafzai said that if the government intended to formulate a new policy to address terrorism and security challenges, all relevant stakeholders should be brought to the table. He stressed that a broad-based consultation process was necessary to develop an effective and sustainable strategy for restoring peace.
He added that the provincial government was prepared to extend all possible cooperation to efforts aimed at eliminating terrorism. In his remarks, Yousafzai also credited PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and his negotiating team for their role in previous discussions between the government and opposition.
The PTI leader’s comments come amid heightened political tensions surrounding the party’s long march and continuing disagreements between the federal and provincial governments. The situation has also intensified debate over political negotiations, constitutional measures and the future of relations between Islamabad and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
Yousafzai’s call for a meeting with Imran Khan reflects PTI’s continued emphasis on political dialogue as a possible route toward resolving the current impasse. However, with tensions remaining high, the prospects for renewed negotiations will depend on whether both sides can overcome their differences and agree on a framework for further engagement.
