Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan on Thursday firmly ruled out any personal compromise or “give-and-take” deal, saying that while he is open to talks, they must be solely in the national interest of Pakistan.
This was conveyed by Senator Ali Zafar after he had a meeting with Khan at Adiala Jail, where the 71-year-old leader has been in detention since August 2023. Khan has been charged with various offenses ranging from corruption to terrorism after he was ousted from power via a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
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Speaking to reporters, Zafar said, “Imran Khan made it absolutely clear that he has never asked for any special concession. If he wanted one, he would have done so a long time ago.” He emphasized that any future dialogue must be transparent and in line with the national interest of Pakistan.
Khan’s statement comes in the wake of recent remarks by his sister, Aleema Khan, who appealed to the country’s powerful “unseen forces” to initiate a dialogue based on mutual give-and-take. Her comments were acknowledged by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who described the offer as a “fragile effort” but said it was worth examining.
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Despite the political noise, Imran Khan remains focused. Zafar quoted him as saying, “I am ready to talk, but only for the sake of unity in the country. My doors are open for dialogue with the establishment.” He warned that no one should be allowed to “play on both sides of the wicket” and criticized those in power for their silence.
Khan also reiterated his demand for a fair and swift judicial process. “I only want justice,” he said, highlighting the delays in his court cases. At the same time, he confirmed that PTI had officially launched a protest movement and would unveil a comprehensive action plan within the next few days. The party leadership has already been instructed to gear up for the campaign.
