PTI still engaging with establishment, claims senior leader Raoof Hasan

• Hasan emphasises that talks underway despite statements to contrary.
• Senior PTI leader Hasan reiterates that “negotiations have not ended".
• Military establishment distances itself from "ongoing backchannel talks".

KARACHI: Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raoof Hasan has reaffirmed that his party is engaged in discussions with the establishment. 

Speaking on Geo News' programme 'Naya Pakistan' on Friday, Hasan emphasised that these talks are ongoing despite statements to the contrary.

Responding to host Shahzad Iqbal, who cited Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's denial of any negotiations with PTI, Hasan remarked: "The negotiations are with individuals who are perhaps beyond Naqvi's purview, with people who hold real influence. If Naqvi chooses not to acknowledge this, that’s his issue, not ours.”

The PTI leader reiterated that “negotiations have not ended. They’re still under way”. 

“A lot of issues are on board. It’s about changing the mindset. If negotiations progress and there’s hope of a result, we can think about them," he added. 

He said that the negotiations between PTI and the establishment have become inevitable, given the country's state. 

"The country can’t progress without them. Everyone can see that the country is currently in trouble.” 

Hasan clarified that holding protests instead of issuing threats is the party’s legal right, which they are exercising.

He also clarified that if the call persists, their November 24 protest would succeed.

“People are prepared for the protest. They want to join it. I’m in favour of dialogue. Problems should be solved at the table on a priority basis. A protest will be very effective in this regard, " he added. 

Military distances itself from ongoing PTI-govt talks

However, the military establishment has made it clear that it has nothing to do with the ongoing reported behind the scene contacts between the PTI and the government.

A source, associated with the establishment, while talking to The News on Friday categorically denied the impression, given or perceived by some people, as if these background contacts are either the consequence of the initiative of the security establishment or there is any interaction between the institution and the PTI.

“Our position is clear that the army will not talk to any political party. It is for the political parties to talk to each other,” the source said, adding that the Pakistan Army will not hold any dialogue with any political leader or political party.

The source, while referring to the press conference addressed by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif in May this year, said that the institution stated position remains unchanged.

During his press conference in May, the ISPR DG was asked about the possibility of any deal with PTI or its founder Imran Khan. He had stated that the army has no political role. 

"The army is apolitical and its relationship with every government is in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he had clarified.

“All political parties are respectable for us. However, if any political group attacks its own army, no one will interact with it. The only way for such an anarchist group is to apologise to the nation, promise to shun the politics of hatred and do constructive politics.

"In any case, such a dialogue should take place between political parties. It is not appropriate for the army to be involved," he had said. 

The News, while quoting a senior defence source, had also reported on November 2 that the military’s policy, as announced earlier, remains unchanged and if Khan and the PTI want to seek any relief or concession, the only way forward for them is to talk to the political parties, including those representing the government, and not the army or its chief.