- The government and the establishment have proposed a deal, says Marwat.
- The PTI lawmaker said the embattled party had rejected the offer.
- “Imran Khan has been approached directly on several occasions.”
ISLAMABAD: Amid ongoing talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to defuse political tensions, party lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat claimed that the former ruling party had been offered to move its incarcerated founder Imran Khan to the Governor’s House in Khyber. Nathia Gali from Pakhtunkhwa.
“(Interior Minister) Mohsin Naqvi and representatives of the government and establishment presented an offer to transfer Imran to Nathia Gali… but the PTI rejected the deal,” the lawmaker said during a speech at Geo News program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.
A similar claim was made by PTI founder Faisal Chaudhry’s lawyer, who said a day earlier that Imran had been offered a deal under which he would be transferred to Bani Gala, his residence in Islamabad, for serve the remaining prison sentence.
“(Imran) Khan said he was offered to be transferred to Bani Gala. However, he stressed that he would not move anywhere until those detained without trial were released,” Chaudhry told reporters. journalists in front of Adiala prison.
News had reported last month that the government may consider offering a house arrest deal to the PTI founder, provided he does not question the current system and ends the politics of agitation.
Reports of an “agreement” emerged at a time when the federal government and the former ruling party sat down to discuss with the latter putting forward two initial demands: the release of all “political prisoners” and the formation of a commission to investigate the matter. Events of May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024.
Speaking on today’s show, Marwat said the former prime minister had been “approached directly” on several occasions. “An assurance has been given that Imran will be released by December 20,” he claimed.
Responding to a question regarding the negotiations, the lawmaker said PTI negotiators confirmed that no individual was ready to take the responsibility of submitting written demands. “The team wishes to consult the PTI founder before submitting the charter of demands.”
The statement comes a day after the embattled former ruling party and the government held their second round of dialogue, which National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said took place in a cordial environment.
During the meeting, the PTI negotiating team sought frequent meetings with party founder Imran Khan to finalize the ‘charter of demands’. Although the PTI expressed its main demands very clearly, it could not share them in writing with the government commission.
The party founded by Imran Khan has already issued an ultimatum that the talks should be concluded by the end of the current month.
The talks took place following the former ruling party’s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if its demands are not met. Jailed PTI founder Imran Khan last month called on his supporters to launch the anti-government movement by initially withholding remittances.