A high-ranking member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has proposed a meeting between PTI leader Imran Khan and the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, facilitated by President Arif Alvi.
This statement suggests that the former ruling party is attempting to reduce tensions between themselves, the government, and their political rivals as the country approaches the upcoming general election, scheduled for the last week of January next year.
Imran Khan faces disqualification and may not be able to participate in the elections unless he receives legal relief from the country’s courts, with only a few months left before the general polls.
Nawaz Sharif has also returned to Pakistan after a four-year exile and, in his homecoming speech, expressed his intention not to seek vengeance against his political opponents.
Senior PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan proposed, “The president should convene a meeting between Nawaz and Imran,” noting that President Alvi holds a unique position, having served during the tenures of both his party and its opponents, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Ali Muhammad Khan welcomed Nawaz’s return to Pakistan but expressed a preference for it to align with the Constitution and the law. He raised questions about the government’s reception of a convicted individual and called for transparent elections.
In Nawaz’s recent speech, he hinted at reconciling with state institutions and emphasized the need for collaboration among “state institutions, politicians, and all the pillars of the state.”
Reacting to Ali’s proposal for a Nawaz-Imran meeting to ease political tensions, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah commented that the PTI chairman was unwilling to engage with anyone. Referring to Imran’s approach towards opposition parties during his time in power, Sanaullah criticized his actions over the past three and a half years and noted that no message had been conveyed to the PML-N or other political parties by Imran.
Sanaullah also suggested the possibility of conducting elections without Imran Khan, questioning whether the deposed prime minister should be prosecuted to enable his participation in the polls. He raised the question of whether individuals within the PTI facing accusations should also be subject to scrutiny.
Regarding today’s political gathering, Sanaullah deemed it a success as per their expectations. He stressed the importance of collective efforts by all political parties, including the PTI, to navigate the country out of the current crisis. However, he clarified that those involved in the May 9 incident would not be included in this cooperative process.
