Backchannel talks between govt and PTI 'put on hold'

• Source says backdoor contacts were active on occasion of SCO summit. 
• PIMS doctors allowed to visit Imran after backchannel contacts in Oct. 
• PTI-govt contacts became active when PTI announced do-or-die protest. 
  

ISLAMABAD: Backchannel negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have paused amid focus on the formal dialogue process between the two sides.

An informed source said that no backchannel meeting was held after the two sides met on December 19, 2024. The last such meeting was attended by two important players of the government, including a minister and an official. The PTI side was represented by a key leader of the party.

The source said that these backchannel contacts had been active on the occasion of Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) summit and during PTI’s November 24 protest march to Islamabad.

The PTI had announced a protest on D-Chowk on the occasion of SCO meeting. However, after the backchannel contacts between the two sides, doctors from PIMS hospital were allowed to visit jailed PTI founder chairman Imran Khan.

The PTI wanted a personal physician for its founder Imran Khan from Shaukat Khanam Hospital, but in the backchannel discussions, it was agreed that the PTI would call off the D-Chowk protest on the occasion of SCO summit even if PIMS doctors were allowed to visit the former prime minister. 

Later, these backchannel contacts became active when the PTI announced its final call of Nov 24 march on Islamabad. On the basis of the same backchannel negotiations, some PTI leaders including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Barrister Saif were facilitated to meet Imran but the PTI founder at that time insisted on his immediate release from jail. 

Imran had also agreed to the government’s suggestion to stop the protest at Sangjani (on the outskirts of Islamabad). However, his wife Bushra Bibi led the march to D-Chowk and it all led to the November 26 episode.

The November 26 events were a serious jolt for these backchannel interactions as the government side got the conclusion that second tier leadership of the PTI is totally helpless and doesn’t have any say and that Imran listens to no one in the party.

While the PTI alleged that on November 26, the government opened fire on many of its protesters, the regime saw a plot to ignite violence behind PTI’s protest.

Following PTI’s initiative, the government and the former ruling party held a high-level backchannel meeting in the third week of last month. 

However, in the said meeting the PTI was told that it would have to choose whether it wishes to continue with the politics of agitation and confrontation or it really wants reconciliation.

The News had reported on that occasion that the PTI was told if it continues with its policy of agitation, violence, attacking the army and its top leadership and hurting the economy, there won’t be any outcome of these backchannel contacts. 

And if it opts for reconciliation, it would require clear change of policy and departure from its past few years’ politics.

Later, the formal dialogue between the two sides started but there is no further development in these backchannel interactions. According to the source, now the focus is on the formal dialogue process.

Originally published in The News