PTI rejects Shehbaz’s ‘mere offer’ for talks

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s renewed offer for talks, describing it as only a verbal proposal and urging the government to take practical steps if it genuinely wants negotiations.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan made the remarks outside Adiala Jail after authorities denied him permission to meet party founder Imran Khan. He said the government had not taken any meaningful initiative to establish dialogue with the opposition.

Gohar said PTI had been unable to meet Imran for nearly a year, calling the continued restrictions on access to him “inhumane”. He said the party’s lawyers, doctors, family members and workers had also faced difficulties in meeting the incarcerated PTI founder.

He also criticised the detention of Imran’s sisters, saying they were not involved in politics and should not have been imprisoned. Gohar further condemned the arrest of Imran’s cousin Qasim Zaman and alleged that several PTI lawmakers and ministers had also been detained.

The PTI chairman said the party had continued to stand by the state despite what he described as political pressure and restrictions on its leadership.

The remarks came as a PTI convoy led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi continued its march towards Islamabad. The convoy reached Kohat after passing through Lakki Marwat and Karak as part of the party’s campaign for Imran’s release and its broader political demands.

Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the government could initiate contact with Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

Raja said Imran had authorised both opposition leaders to negotiate on his behalf and reach an agreement if the government showed flexibility.

He also rejected claims that the long march had been called off, saying the mobilisation would continue until the party’s concerns were properly addressed.