PTI Blames Centre Over Imran Access
PTI says the federal government refused to allow access to Imran Khan, which it says was the main reason talks collapsed.
Negotiations on Sunday between a PTI‑TTAP delegation and a joint government‑PPP team ended in a deadlock after hours of discussion. The PTI claimed that the government’s refusal to include a clause for Imran Khan’s access was the principal point of disagreement.
PTI demanded that its leadership be able to consult Imran Khan on national and political matters. The party offered to set aside other demands if this single request were met, but the government declined to add it to the proposed agreement.
The government blamed the PTI for the failure of negotiations, while the PTI said the federal side was responsible for the breakdown and that it had been offered a limited restoration of family and legal meetings.
Imran Khan, imprisoned since 5 August 2023, has had his health deteriorated in jail. PTI called for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, the creation of a medical board that includes his personal physician, and a thorough medical examination. The government agreed to resume family and lawyer meetings but did not accept the additional medical measures.
Security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also a key topic. PTI urged the federal and provincial governments to agree on counter‑terrorism actions that involve consultation with political parties, tribal elders and local stakeholders. The government insisted on unilateral measures and rejected the PTI’s call for joint decision‑making.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the talks failed because the federal side demanded that all counter‑terrorism actions be owned by the provincial government. The PTI remains ready to engage in dialogue but says meaningful progress requires flexibility and genuine willingness to translate discussion into action.
