Imran Khan ‘closes doors’ to any talks with establishment

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan has declared an end to negotiations with all parties, including the establishment, signalling a hardened stance amidst ongoing political turmoil. Speaking to the media at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, the former prime minister revealed that six party leaders were previously permitted to engage in dialogue with the establishment. He emphasized he had never prohibited anyone from holding talks.

“We have been cheated,” the PTI founder said, expressing frustration over the current political climate. He also confirmed that the party will proceed with its planned rally in Lahore on September 21, regardless of any permissions or restrictions. In his remarks, Imran Khan also addressed the statements made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the party’s Islamabad rally. He strongly supported Gandapur, stating that he had expressed the “sentiments of the nation”.

“I stand with Ali Amin Gandapur,” Imran Khan insisted, dismissing those who sought to distance themselves from Gandapur’s remarks as “cowards”.

“They should not be in the party, they should leave the party,” the former premier said, referring to those apologizing for Gandapur’s statements. He singled out Faisal Vawda, describing him as “just a mouthpiece”. The PTI founder also reiterated his demand for an open trial in the Arshad Sharif murder case, calling for transparency and justice.

Separately, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan denounced the recent events in and outside the parliament, likening them to an attack on democracy comparable to the events of May 9, 2023. Speaking during a National Assembly session on Tuesday, Khan condemned the arrests of PTI lawmakers, declaring that September 10 will be remembered as a dark chapter in the history of Pakistani democracy.

“Article 6 should be imposed on those who attacked parliament,” Khan stated. He further asserted that democracy, Pakistan, and its Constitution were attacked when masked individuals took lawmakers away from the parliament premises. Ali Muhammad Khan clarified that his concerns were not solely for the PTI, but for the broader cause of democracy in Pakistan. “Today, my proposal is not just for PTI’s founder; it is for democracy,” he added, underlining the gravity of the issue. He further said PTI Founder Imran Khan was fighting his own case.