Imran Khan decides 'stepping back' from rigid stance to ease political tension

• Khan authorises committee to contact establishment.
• Gandapur is engaged in back-door communications.
• Party to move forward by holding negotiations: sources.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has decided to "step back" from his rigid stance, ordering his party leaders to establish contacts both inside and outside the Parliament to ease the ongoing political tension, sources told Geo News.

According to the sources, the party's leadership would hold talks with various political parties outside the Parliament, while its lawmakers would also enhance its relations with parties in the ruling coalition government.

The PTI founder's decision came after his interaction with Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, when he appeared for a hearing before the Supreme Court a day earlier.

During the hearing pertaining to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law amendments, CJP Isa suggested that Khan go to the Parliament to help resolve Pakistan’s problems "as the country needs to move forward".

The incarcerated PTI founder — during his appearance before the SC bench via video link from Adaila jail, where he remains behind bars since August 2023 — complained about facing political "victimisation" since his ouster from power in April 2022.

The former prime minister has given his party's three-member committee the authority to establish contact with the establishment, said the sources.

On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is also engaged in back-door communications, they added.

The sources revealed that it has been decided that PTI would support the state for political and economic stability to de-escalate tension.

“The party will move forward by holding negotiations on multiple matters including on committees of the Senate and National Assembly,” the sources said. 

'Khan being asked to strike deal, leave country'

Former president and PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi, on June 5, claimed that the incarcerated party founder was being told to "strike a deal and leave the country".

Alvi had said that Khan rejected the offer and decided not to leave the country "at any cost".

The former president had predicted that those who were colluding to sentence Khan — the former prime minister — would face a complete failure.

Commenting on dialogue offers, the politico had said that his party was ready to hold talks with “stakeholders but not with the non-stakeholders”. He had asked the stakeholders to let go of hatred and practice compassion.

He had also said that the stakeholders should not be afraid of any kind of risks after the PTI founder’s release. Alvi demanded releasing the former prime minister, the supremacy of law in the country and returning the party’s mandate.

Alvi had further said that his party could not hold the incumbent rulers who were as much “powerless” as they came into power via “Form 47” and didn’t have “authority” to make decisions.

On June 5, he had said that his party would hold dialogue with the one who has real power to make decisions.