By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday formed a seven-member committee to engage in negotiations with the government, despite a senior cabinet member of the ruling coalition dismissing talks with Khan amidst a wave of departures of founding leaders from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif rejected the PTI chief’s offer to hold talks, saying negotiations are held with politicians, not with a “group of terrorists who burn the memorials of martyrs and set the country on fire.”
Khan’s strained relationship with the army and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government intensified following his removal from power through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence last year, which he attributed to a conspiracy orchestrated by his political adversaries and senior generals.
Tensions escalated further when Khan was arrested by paramilitary Rangers on the directive of the country’s anti-graft body on May 9. The arrest triggered violent protests, with individuals carrying PTI flags setting fire to numerous government buildings and military installations.
In response to the crackdown on his party, the former prime minister extended an offer to negotiate with state authorities on Friday.
“On the instructions of PTI chairman Imran Khan, a negotiating team has been formed for talks with the government,” the PTI said on Twitter. The party also said a notification had been issued naming the seven members of the negotiating team.
According to the PTI’s social media post, the committee will discuss a plan of action with the government concerning the upcoming elections in the country.
While speaking to journalists earlier at his Zaman Park residence, Khan said that if he is disqualified or arrested, Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead the party.
“The time will soon change, and in the coming days, I will give you a big surprise. There is no fight between me and the military,” he added.
The committee includes former ministers Qureshi, Pervez Khattak, Murad Saeed, Hamad Azhar, and the ex-speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, among others.
Most of the individuals appointed to the committee are either in custody of law enforcement agencies since the May 9 violence or are evading arrest by remaining underground.
It remains unclear how the negotiating team intends to engage with the government, as Information Minister Mariyam Aurangzeb also ruled out talks with those “who attacked sensitive installations and buildings which were symbols of national pride” and “poisoned the minds of the youth.”
“Imran [Khan] was not ready to sit with the opposition parties on critical issues [during his tenure in power],” stated the minister in an official handout.
Wave of Departures from PTI
In addition to the political turmoil, Khan’s party is also facing a wave of departures from its founding members.
On Saturday, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail resigned from all party positions. Ismail, who was among the members who sang the party’s famous song “Tabdeeli Aaye Ray”, was arrested for inciting violence during the protests on May 9. He was released on a surety bond of Rs50,000.
Ismail said that those involved in the events of May 9 should be punished, but it has not yet been proven in the inquiry who was involved.
“I resign from all positions in the PTI and step down from the basic membership of the party. However, whether my political career has ended or not, I have not made a final decision on that. Khan Sahib, I bid you and PTI farewell,” he added.
Ismail joins the long list of PTI members who were quitting the former ruling party. Earlier in the day, Ali Zaidi and Makhdoom Khushro Bakhtiar also made announcements of parting ways with the former ruling party.
Zaidi said he is leaving politics and resigning from party positions. In a video message Zaidi said that he had joined politics for Pakistan and had already condemned the May 9 incidents.
“I’m quitting politics. I’m resigning from my positions of Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh president, core committee member and MNA,” said Zaidi.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday this week announced his resignation from the party saying he has decided “to take a break from politics.”
“In my earlier statement where I unequivocally condemned the 9th May incidents, I have decided to take a break from politics, therefore, I have resigned from the party position and parting ways with Imran Khan,” tweeted Fawad Chaudhry.
Moreover, Asad Umar, the secretary general of PTI, also announced his resignation from all party positions after getting released from Jail.
PTI senior leader Shireen Mazari also announced her decision to quit PTI and politics recently. “From today onwards, I am no longer a part of PTI or any political party.”
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