Imran relents, agrees to negotiate with rivals – thanks to SC

Incarcerated leader will write letter to SC outlining demands for fair trial, return of electoral mandate

ISLAMABAD:

The incarcerated PTI founder, who wouldn’t negotiate with anyone but the security establishment, appears to be having a change of heart – thanks to the Supreme Court judges who recently advised him to engage in dialogue with his political rivals.

Khan is planning to write a letter to the Supreme Court to tell the judges that he is amenable to their suggestion, sources told The Express Tribune. He has already drafted the letter which also addresses the economic woes and political instability blighting the country.

The letter, according to sources, states that the former prime minister is open to dialogue with any party capable of resolving economic and political crises. The letter also calls for a fair trial in political cases, the return of the electoral mandate to the legitimately victorious party, and an impartial judicial inquiry into the events of May 9.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of PTI's legal committee will be convened on Tuesday (today). The committee will fine-tune the points in the former prime minister’s letter, ensuring it addresses the political and economic challenges facing the nation, sources said. The letter also demands fair trials for PTI leaders and workers, alongside calls for electoral justice.

Read also: SC advises Imran to open dialogue with politicians

Last week, the Supreme Court judges, particularly Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, advised Khan to engage in dialogue with parliamentarians. “Sit down with members of parliament; they are not your enemies. Go and talk to them,” he told the incarcerated PTI leader who attended the apex court proceedings in the NAB law amendment case via a videolink.

The top judge said that politicians should resolve their issues politically instead of dragging their squabbles into court.

Imran, however, insisted that politicians were power-less and that he would only negotiate with those wielding "real power” – a reference to the security establishment. Now, this new development shows that he is willing to budge on his stance vis-à-vis political dialogue.

The PTI legal committee is set to finalise the draft letter, which could pave the way for much-needed political stability in Pakistan, the sources added.