Former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday lent credence to the reports that efforts are underway to open a path of reconciliation with the establishment for his release as he reiterated that dialogue should always remain open for political and democratic solutions.
After meeting with Imran who is currently detained at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan told the media that the PTI founder is amenable to dialogue. "However, the founder has made it clear that his release will only be through legal means, not deals," Gohar said.
On Tuesday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who belongs to the PTI, confirmed that attempts were made for the reconciliation of the opposition party with the establishment to effect Imran's release,
He said earlier, some overseas Pakistanis had tried to mediate reconciliation on their own but the ultimate decision rests solely with the PTI founder, in response to questions by some journalists.
"The key questions are: should there be talks or not, who should lead them, and under what terms of reference? These decisions lie only with the founder," he said.
According to Gandapur, if any party leader named someone but the founder did not agree, then the matter could not proceed. "Talks can only move forward if the founder himself nominates someone or agrees on a name," he said.
He added that while it can be said that efforts were underway toward reconciliation between the establishment and the PTI founder, it was difficult to identify any individual as a mediator since no one other than the founder had the authority to approve such engagement.
In Rawalpindi, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that the party founder has directed lawmakers who resigned from standing committees to also return official vehicles along with drivers.
He added that Imran has endorsed the party's decision to boycott by-elections and stressed that the Kalabagh Dam should be built with consensus among all provinces. Gohar said he and Zaheer Abbas Chaudhry had met the former PM and found him in good health and high spirits.
"The founder appreciated the party's decision to boycott the by-elections and said this is how it should be. He also directed that those resigning from committees must hand back cars, drivers, and keys, making it clear that resignations will not be withdrawn," he stated.
He said Imran expressed grief over deaths caused by the recent earthquake in Afghanistan, voiced concerns over the repatriation of Afghan refugees, and instructed the party to extend full support to flood victims. "He has assigned CM Gandapur the responsibility of holding a public rally in September."
Talking with reference to the leaders of opposition in the National Assembly and Senate — Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz — who were de-seated last month after their conviction in May 9 cases, Gohar said, "So long as Omar and Shibli have stay orders, they remain our leaders".
Quoting Imran Khan, he said, "People are spreading rumors about my health — I am perfectly fine."
Gohar said for three years the PTI founder had sought dialogue, but the government's committee showed no seriousness.
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