Senior PTI leader and former parliamentary affairs minister Ali Muhammad Khan has indicated that his party may be open to negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to resolve ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition, provided the PTI’s demands are met.
Relations between the PTI and the PML-N-led coalition government, already strained since the ouster of party founder Imran Khan in 2022, have become more tense over time. Recently, police raided the party’s central office over an alleged “anti-state campaign” that led to the arrest of PTI spokesperson Rauf Hassan.
During the Doosra Rakh programme on Dawn News TV on Saturday, Ali Muhammad Khan was asked whether the PTI was open to talks with the three major political parties — the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) — to ease political tensions and address issues. In response, he stressed that negotiations were necessary.
“We can sit with our allies, the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and Majlis-e-Ittehad-e-Sunnat, all day long, but that will not yield any results,” he said. “You have to deal with those with whom you have problems, so negotiations are necessary.” .
Last week, while speaking to reporters at Adiala Jail, the jailed Imran Khan laid down three preconditions for possible talks with the government: returning his party’s “stolen mandate,” releasing all detained party workers, and holding transparent elections.
Echoing the sentiments of the party’s founder, Ali Muhammad stated that the party was ready to enter into negotiations based on certain conditions.
“We want the cases [against our workers and supporters] to be withdrawn because they are politically motivated. They [the government] should apologise and admit their mistake in filing all these initial reports,” he said.
Ali Muhammad stressed that his party’s second and most important demand was the restoration of the PTI’s mandate.
“The government and the opposition can agree to take the matter to the Supreme Court, so that they can resolve it,” he said. “The less they negotiate and talk, the worse the situation will get.”
The lawmaker said the PTI’s last resort would be to protest if negotiations fail.
“Political instability (through protests) is damaging to the nation. You can see the impact on law and order and the economy. Talking and maintaining relations will keep the country strong against any threats.”
Asked about the PTI founder’s views on the negotiations, the former minister said Imran was not averse to talks with the government.
“I have met Imran Khan repeatedly since the elections and the one thing that has remained consistent is his openness to talks. However, these discussions must be meaningful and produce tangible results,” he said.
“Our workers and supporters in jail must be released and our mandate must be restored, as per Form 45.”
However, the PTI MP made it clear that negotiations can only take place between political parties, not between parties and the establishment.
“There is nothing in the constitution that allows negotiations between political parties and the establishment,” he said. “You can deal with the establishment, but talks are always between political parties.”
Earlier this week, Imran had said that his party was ready to talk to the military establishment.
Speaking about the party’s political activities in the country and the next steps, Ali Muhammad said that there would be a big rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday to mark the anniversary of the former prime minister’s arrest.
“We will hold a big national-level rally on August 5. People from all over the country will participate,” he said.
