Bilawal Bhutto’s Party Open to Dialogue with Imprisoned Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan

Islamabad:

The Pakistan Peoples Party-led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed its readiness to converse with detained former prime minister Imran Khan if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder is open to dialogue, in the midst of increased political instability in the financially struggling country.

“It is being reported that the PTI founder is open to discussions. If Imran Khan is willing to engage then that’s a positive development,” Senior PPP leader Khurshid Shah stated while addressing the media in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.

Mr Shah embraced the potential for dialogue as a positive advancement.

“President Asif Ali Zardari has consistently attempted to resolve issues through talks, and the PPP would fulfill its role if necessary,” Mr Shah was cited as saying by the Express Tribune newspaper.

The PPP’s readiness to communicate with Khan’s party arises amidst heightened political instability, following the PTI’s firm stance against the current Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government.

The PPP, in conjunction with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and other partners, backs the PML-N of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two former adversaries recently engaged in a verbal dispute. The ruling PML-N acquiesced to all of PPP’s demands regarding the national budget and allocation of development funds.

Since Mr Khan’s removal through a vote of no confidence in 2022, the PTI has maintained a vigorous opposition to the PPP-PML-N alliance.

Political tensions escalated following the elections on February 8, which resulted in the two parties forming a coalition government at the Centre.

Calls for reconciliation have been mounting from various societal and political factions, urging the PTI to engage in negotiations with the administration.

Mr Khan’s party had previously declined discussions with what it labeled the “Form-47 government,” opting instead for talks with the military establishment.

In April, PTI’s Shehryar Afridi indicated a preference for discussions with Army chief Gen Asim Munir and the Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI).

Subsequently, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub mentioned that Imran Khan had delegated significant responsibilities to former President Dr Arif Alvi.

Last month, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar confirmed that Mr Khan had sanctioned talks with the government.

Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan’s sister Aleema Khan urged state institutions to remain impartial for the country’s advancement.

Meanwhile, the administration has also urged the Khan-founded party to come to the table and engage in talks.

“If you wish to oust us then go ahead. You do not wish to resolve issues but to further complicate them. You should engage in discussions rather than causing further chaos,” Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik stated last week.