Yousafzai also criticises the government for not allowing the PTI\u2019s negotiating committee to meet Imran Khan.
\n Islamabad
\nPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai on Monday asserted that Imran Khan\u2019s potential conviction would not derail ongoing negotiations with the federal government, reaffirming the party\u2019s commitment to dialogue over confrontation.
\nYousafzai, addressing reporters in Peshawar, said PTI was open to formally communicating its demands, which include the unconditional release of detained workers and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate allegations of political persecution.
\nHowever, he criticised the government for not allowing the PTI\u2019s negotiating committee to meet their detained leader. \u201cOur demands are clear, but we cannot finalise them without consultation with Imran Khan. The government can consult its leadership at any time, yet we are denied this fundamental right,\u201d Yousafzai said.
\nHe urged the government to \u201cfacilitate the dialogue process\u201d by granting access to Khan, whose detention has been a sticking point in negotiations. Yousafzai accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the talks while claiming they want a resolution.
\nYousafzai also dismissed the \u00a3190 million corruption case involving Imran Khan, calling it a \u201cfrivolous\u201d attempt to discredit the former prime minister. \u201cEven if a conviction occurs, this case will collapse in higher courts. It\u2019s a case of acquittal, and the government knows it,\u201d he stated.
\nThe PTI leader maintained that the party would continue its civil disobedience campaign alongside the negotiations, ruling out any possibility of a political compromise.
\n\u201cNegotiations are not about striking a deal. They are about achieving justice and ensuring that the democratic process remains intact,\u201d he said.
\nYousafzai questioned the sincerity of the government\u2019s negotiating team, saying the continuation of talks depended on their seriousness.
\n\u201cWe will only proceed based on the actions of the government representatives. Their sincerity will dictate the future of these discussions,\u201d he added.
\nDespite ongoing challenges, Yousafzai emphasised that PTI remained committed to peaceful dialogue and resolving issues through political channels, warning that delays would only deepen the political crisis.
\nPTI\u2019s shifting demands may jeopardise political talks: Irfan Siddiqui
\nPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has introduced new demands in ongoing political negotiations, raising concerns from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui about the future of talks to resolve the country\u2019s political tensions.
\nSpeaking to journalists on Sunday, he cautioned that PTI\u2019s shifting stance, which now includes the release of Imran Khan via executive order and the involvement of \u201creal decision-makers\u201d in the talks, could undermine progress made during earlier negotiations.
\nThe coalition government and PTI had initially reached consensus on two core demands during the first round of talks on December 23, 2024: the release of political prisoners and a judicial probe into the events of May 9 and November 26. However, the inclusion of additional conditions has drawn criticism from government representatives.
\nSiddiqui noted that despite assurances given during the earlier discussions, PTI has yet to submit a list of demands formally. He highlighted recent comments by PTI senior leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, who revealed the party\u2019s desire to include \u201cstakeholders with real decision-making power\u201d in the dialogue process.
\nThe PML-N leader expressed concern that this demand was not raised in previous rounds of negotiations, suggesting a lack of alignment within PTI\u2019s leadership.
\nHe remarked, \u201cThe dialogue process won\u2019t move forward positively if PTI keeps changing its stance.\u201d He also pointed out that Qaiser\u2019s latest remarks indicated difficulties in fulfilling promises made to the government\u2019s team during earlier discussions.
\nResponding to criticism, Qaiser described the submission of a formal list of demands as a \u201cformality\u201d and expressed confidence that the third round of talks, expected this week, would provide greater clarity.
\nHe emphasised the importance of sincerity and prioritising national interests in the negotiations while urging the government to consult with all stakeholders to eliminate ambiguities and expedite decision-making. He further stressed the need for PTI\u2019s broader leadership to participate in the discussions to ensure transparency and alignment.
\nDespite concerns over the evolving nature of PTI\u2019s demands, Qaiser reaffirmed the party\u2019s commitment to the dialogue process and its intention to make \u201csignificant positive decisions.\u201d
\nHe clarified that PTI had no intention of derailing negotiations and urged the government to engage meaningfully with all relevant stakeholders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yousafzai also criticises the government for not allowing the PTI\u2019s negotiating committee to meet Imran Khan. Islamabad Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai on Monday asserted that Imran Khan\u2019s potential conviction would not derail ongoing negotiations with the federal government, reaffirming the party\u2019s commitment to dialogue over confrontation. Yousafzai, addressing reporters in Peshawar, said PTI […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-453875","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n