After breakdown of talks with govt, PTI says reconciliation not possible without including Imran

PTI leaders announced on Monday that reconciliation with the government is impossible without involving party founder Imran Khan in the talks. Speaking at a press conference in KP House, Islamabad, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja stated that Imran Khan possesses the ability to bridge the gap between the state and the nation.

Raja alleged that the government's unwillingness to adopt a unified strategy against terrorism was another factor that led to the talks' failure. He claimed that PTI initiated the negotiations with an open mind and was committed to resolving the issues. Despite continuing to hope for further discussions on the second day, Raja expressed frustration that the government was pressuring PTI members to back every government action related to terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Raja emphasized that the PTI delegation had requested the government to take into account the recommendations of a jirga (tribal council) convened by the KP assembly, which involved political parties and stakeholders. The delegation had also urged the government to consider tribal leaders' opinions, according to Raja. The PTI delegation proposed that the agreement should acknowledge a collective decision on terrorism, but the government refused to commit to putting it in writing.

Raja stated that the government deliberately complicated the situation by stating that a unanimous strategy against terrorism would not be developed and would not be included in the agreement. Raja firmly believed that only Imran Khan could address the current issues, leading him to demand that Imran Khan and his opinions be included in all matters.