Imran’s release remains PTI’s top demand in talks with govt

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has prioritized the release of former prime minister Imran Khan as its primary demand during negotiations with the government, a member of the ruling side's committee revealed. The source confirmed that PTI persistently raised this demand in both rounds of talks.

“PTI made Imran Khan’s release their first demand during the December 23 meeting,” the committee member stated, requesting anonymity. “In the January 2 meeting, they again started by insisting on his release, underscoring how central this demand is for them.”

When asked if PTI sought Khan’s transfer from Adiala jail to house arrest in Banigala, the source clarified that PTI is demanding his complete release through an executive order, not house arrest.

Addressing PTI's public claims that Imran Khan only requested the release of party workers and leaders, the source contested this, stating, “In both meetings, their top demand was Imran Khan’s release, followed by the release of others such as Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ijaz Chaudhry, and party workers.”

During the talks, government negotiators challenged PTI’s request for an executive order, pointing out that political prisoners during Imran Khan’s tenure, like Rana Sanaullah, Shehbaz Sharif, and Khawaja Asif, were not released through such measures. “The PTI team had no response to this,” the source said, adding that PTI also opposed any written agreement to avoid potential embarrassment. “However, the government needs written demands to consult its legal team for any potential release,” the source explained.

The insider also noted that PTI’s delegation appeared uncertain and sought Imran Khan’s approval for every issue raised during the talks. Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiation committee, confirmed this, adding, “PTI promised to present a written charter of demands during the January 2 meeting but failed to do so, citing the need for Imran Khan’s input.”

Senator Siddiqui elaborated, “The government facilitated a meeting between PTI leaders and Imran Khan to finalize their demands. Now, PTI is requesting private meeting spaces, which have also been arranged.” He warned, however, that the negotiation process could falter if PTI does not submit its charter of demands in writing as promised. “We have seen no progress in 12 days,” Siddiqui told a media outlet, emphasizing that the government had fulfilled its commitments.

Siddiqui also addressed PTI’s demand to trace 45 missing individuals, stating, “When asked for names and details, PTI failed to provide them. How can we trace individuals without sufficient information?”

Responding to questions about political prisoners, Siddiqui clarified that the term applies based on the nature of the offense, not the individual’s identity. He denied any behind-the-scenes negotiations and said the date for the third round of talks depends on PTI’s readiness.

Meanwhile, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, a PTI negotiator, refuted the government’s claim that PTI demanded Khan’s release through an executive order. “We’ve made it clear that the PTI leadership is ready to face legal cases, but the government must stop political victimization and prosecutorial misconduct,” he stated, emphasizing that Imran Khan’s release should occur within constitutional and legal frameworks.