PTI terms access to Imran 'principal point of deadlock', says Centre refused to include it in agreement

The Congress Party on Sunday accused the federal government of refusing to include provisions related to access for imprisoned party founder Imran Khan in a proposed agreement, citing it as the main reason for the breakdown of negotiations between opposition and government representatives. The deadlock followed hours-long talks between the opposition delegation, comprising the PTI and Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), and a joint team from the government and Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

The ruling party blamed the opposition for the failure of negotiations, while the opposition denied the allegations. In a press release, the PTI expressed disappointment that the talks concluded without tangible progress, despite significant efforts to address concerns regarding political instability, access to Imran Khan, his medical treatment, and security issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The party highlighted that the central issue was immediate access to Imran Khan, allowing its leadership to consult him on matters of national and political importance. The PTI emphasized that restricting this access limited the scope for meaningful political engagement, as leaders of other parties are typically central to decision-making.

Imran, serving a 14-year sentence for a corruption case, has been imprisoned since August 5, 2023, at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail. His health has deteriorated during his incarceration, leading to calls for his transfer to a better medical facility and the formation of a medical board to oversee his treatment. The government reportedly agreed to restore family and legal meetings with Imran but did not commit to additional measures concerning his medical care or granting access to the PTI founder, which the party deemed essential.

The PTI also criticized the Centre's proposal to involve the KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in counterterrorism policy, arguing that direct consultation with Imran would facilitate consensus-building on security matters.