Imran Khan says PTI to participate in APC despite concerns over Operation Azm-e-Istehkam
1. PTI founder says party wants to hear govt's version, warns of further instability
Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced that his party would participate in the upcoming all-parties conference (APC) organized by the government to discuss Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. Speaking to reporters while attending a court hearing at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where he is currently imprisoned, Khan stated that the PTI would attend the APC to understand the government's stance, despite having reservations about the new anti-terrorism initiative, which he believes could lead to further instability in the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to hold the APC to gain political parties' confidence regarding the newly launched Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. The operation, part of a renewed national counter-terrorism drive, focuses on intelligence-based operations to combat the rising threat of terrorism.
The federal cabinet approved the counter-terrorism operation following recommendations from the National Action Plan's Central Apex Committee. However, opposition parties, including PTI, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F), and Awami National Party (ANP), have expressed concerns over the military operation, demanding that parliament be consulted before any decision is made.
In response to the opposition's criticism, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) clarified that no large-scale military operation is being launched. The statement emphasized that Azm-e-Istehkam is not comparable to earlier kinetic operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Rah-e-Nijat, as terrorist entities' ability to conduct large-scale organized operations within Pakistan has been significantly reduced by previous efforts. The PMO reiterated that there are no no-go areas in the country.
