Imran Khan access becomes key PTI-government deadlock

The PTI has said that its demand for direct access to party founder Imran Khan was a major reason negotiations with the federal government ended without an agreement.

The latest round of talks between the PTI, Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan and a government-PPP negotiating team continued for several hours before reaching a deadlock. Both sides later offered different explanations for why the discussions failed.

According to the PTI, its negotiators wanted immediate access to Imran Khan so they could consult him on political and national matters. The party said it was even willing to set aside other demands if the government agreed to include this request in the proposed agreement.

The PTI claimed the government refused to make access to its incarcerated founder part of the written deal. The party said political leaders must be able to consult their leadership and argued that restricting such communication made meaningful negotiations difficult.

The party also raised concerns about Imran’s health and medical treatment. It sought his transfer to a hospital in Islamabad, a medical board that included his personal doctor and proper medical assessment.

The government reportedly agreed to restore meetings between Imran and his family and lawyers but did not accept the additional medical demands.

Security policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was another major point of disagreement. The PTI said it opposed unilateral counterterrorism measures and called for a joint strategy involving the federal and provincial governments, political parties, tribal elders and other stakeholders.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja separately said the talks collapsed because the government insisted on implementing counterterrorism measures without sufficient consultation with the KP government.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar rejected the PTI’s position and accused the KP government of failing to take adequate action against militancy. He questioned the province’s counterterrorism record and alleged that PTI’s position was indirectly benefiting terrorist groups.

Tarar also criticised the PTI’s calls for consultation, describing them as delaying tactics. He accused the KP government of failing to properly strengthen police and counterterrorism institutions.

The dispute comes as PTI has launched its long march towards Islamabad. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has blamed KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for undermining the negotiations by proceeding with the protest.