Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior and former federal minister Shehryar Afridi asserted on Saturday that they would only engage in negotiations with key military officials, namely the army chief, the Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the Pakistan Army, rather than the federal government.
In an interview with a private news channel, Afridi said that the current government lacks the credibility to engage in talks, stating that they will only discuss matters with the military leadership. He reiterated PTI founder Imran Khan’s desire for dialogue, saying that Khan has consistently sought communication, but to no avail from the opposing side.
Afridi clarified that Imran Khan’s objective is not to seek amnesty or a deal, but rather to engage in discussions with the army chief for the betterment of Pakistan’s future.
However, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur expressed unawareness of Shehryar Afridi’s statements regarding negotiations with the military establishment. Gandapur, speaking to the media at the judicial complex, asserted his capability to address negotiations with the army chief independently.
He criticized the current government, asserting that it was imposed without a democratic mandate.
