PTI says access to Imran Khan, K-P counterterrorism policy led to talks deadlock | The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday expressed regret over the failure of negotiations between its joint team with Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) and government representatives, urging the government to address the reasons for the deadlock and demonstrate its willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue.

In a statement on X, the party said the negotiations concluded without substantive progress despite “serious efforts” to address political stability, restoration of democracy, supremacy of the Constitution and law, access to PTI founder Imran Khan, his health and medical treatment, and the worsening security situation in K-P and other parts of the country.

PTI said the principal point of deadlock was its demand for immediate access to Khan so that the party leadership could consult him on matters of national and political importance.

It said its negotiating team had conveyed that other demands could be set aside if the government agreed to this single request. However, according to the party, the government declined to make access to Khan part of the proposed agreement.

The party maintained that consultation with political leadership was an essential part of the democratic process, arguing that just as leaders of other political parties remained central to their parties’ policy and decision-making, PTI should also be able to consult its chairman on major political and national issues.

“Restricting such consultation, particularly during a critical period for the country, inevitably limits the scope for meaningful political engagement,” it said.

PTI further stated that the situation in K-P was another major issue discussed during the negotiations.

According to the party, the government side sought the provincial government’s unconditional support for counterterrorism measures and operations undertaken by the federation and relevant authorities, as well as support for emergency measures within 72 hours in the merged districts and adjoining areas.

PTI reiterated its “unequivocal condemnation” of terrorism and stressed that eliminating terrorism, protecting citizens and restoring lasting peace must remain a national priority.

The party paid tribute to officers and personnel of the armed forces, police, security forces and other law-enforcement agencies who had sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism, while expressing solidarity with civilians and families affected by terrorist violence.

It said the people of the province had paid an “extraordinary price” over the years through loss of life, destruction of property and businesses, prolonged insecurity and displacement. “Their concerns and experiences must therefore remain central to any future counterterrorism policy,” PTI said.

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The party maintained that terrorism could not be defeated through force alone or through unilateral measures that could expose civilians to further loss of life, property damage or displacement.

“Past experience must inform future policy,” it said, adding that any effective strategy must combine firm action against terrorism with protection of civilian populations and sensitivity to local realities.

PTI proposed that authorised representatives of the federal and K-P governments meet within 72 hours to develop a “clear, comprehensive and mutually agreed strategy” for peace and counterterrorism.

It further proposed consultations with political parties represented in the K-P Assembly, elected representatives, tribal elders and other relevant stakeholders so that any policy could enjoy public confidence and be implemented effectively.

The party also rejected attempts to characterise the position of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi as political obstinacy, arguing that had access to Khan been facilitated, the chief minister could have consulted the PTI chairman directly on security and counterterrorism policy, potentially helping bridge differences and create greater consensus.

PTI said effective cooperation among the federal government, provincial government and relevant authorities was indispensable for national security. Such cooperation, however, must respect constitutional requirements, the role of the elected provincial government and the legitimate concerns of the people directly affected, it added.

It further said the health and medical treatment of Khan was also raised as a matter of “fundamental importance”.

The negotiating team sought immediate access to him, his transfer to Shifa International Hospital and the constitution of an appropriate medical board with the participation of his personal physician to ensure proper examination, diagnosis and treatment, according to the statement.

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PTI said the government had agreed only to restore meetings between Khan and his family members and lawyers from Tuesday, but had not agreed to additional measures concerning his medical assessment and treatment.

The party welcomed the resumption of family and legal meetings but stressed that such access could not substitute for proper medical examination and necessary treatment. “Khan’s health must be addressed with seriousness, transparency and humanitarian consideration,” it said, adding that all medically necessary steps should be taken without delay.

Responding to the subsequent press conference by federal ministers, PTI said the government should refrain from placing responsibility for the inconclusive negotiations entirely on the opposition and instead address the substantive issues that prevented progress.

It called on the government to explain why immediate access to Khan was considered unacceptable, why the requested measures regarding his medical care were not accommodated, and why a broader consultative approach involving the provincial government, political representatives, tribal elders and other stakeholders was not accepted for developing a sustainable security strategy for K-P.

PTI reiterated that it remained prepared to engage in political dialogue, constitutional processes, meaningful consultation and national consensus to address Khan’s health and treatment, restoration of democracy, supremacy of the Constitution and law, political stability, terrorism and other challenges confronting the country.

The party stressed, however, that meaningful negotiations could not succeed through predetermined positions or demands for unconditional endorsement. “Serious dialogue requires flexibility, mutual confidence, consultation and a genuine willingness to translate discussions into practical progress,” it concluded.

Salman Akram Raja says talks broke down over K-P counterterrorism policy

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also said that the deadlock in negotiations with the federal government emerged over the issue of counterterrorism policy in K-P.

Speaking to a private news channel on Sunday, he stated that PTI’s negotiating team maintained that any future strategy against terrorism in K-P should not be determined solely by the federal government.

He said that if the federal government wanted administrative measures that could displace people from their homes, the provincial government could not be held responsible for the consequences if it had no meaningful role in policy formulation.

Raja added that as drafts were amended during talks with the government, PTI’s negotiating team realised that the government’s intentions on some issues were broader than initially understood.

He said the drafts were shared with CM Afridi and the PTI negotiating team because the provincial leadership, being directly responsible for running the province, could better assess the consequences of the proposed measures.

Raja underlined that PTI therefore proposed that the federal and provincial governments jointly formulate a strategy, followed by consultations with all political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party, as well as tribal elders and other relevant stakeholders.

Raja said the government rejected suggestions of a “roadmap” and a “joint strategy” and instead wanted emergency measures imposed in several districts within 72 hours.

Rejecting claims that the K-P government had already agreed to the proposals, he said there was no fundamental disagreement between Afridi and the PTI negotiating team.

He added that an English draft contained a provision for imposing an emergency within 72 hours, while the same provision had reportedly been removed from the Urdu version. He said that once the government’s intentions became clear, PTI agreed it could not accept the proposal.

Commenting on the Police Act 2026, Raja said the K-P government was willing to review the legislation, adding that the law could be examined within 72 hours alongside legislation in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to identify provisions that could be applied in the case of K-P.

He also stated that there was no disagreement over the National Action Plan, which was a “national, consensus-based document”, further noting that the dispute was over its implementation.

He further said that PTI could not support measures such as drone strikes and operations that displaced people from their homes, adding that the party had consistently opposed such actions in the past.

Raja said that if an emergency was imposed in certain districts and the federal government then decided what action to take without consulting the provincial government, there could be no jointly agreed strategy. “In that situation, anything can happen.”

He further said PTI could neither endorse such a policy nor take responsibility for its consequences. PTI, he said, had proposed that the federal and provincial governments formulate a mutually agreed strategy within 72 hours and then implement it.

He rejected allegations that PTI and the K-P government’s position was aligned with the interests of militants, calling such claims “extremely unfortunate” and “completely wrong and contrary to facts”.

He added that PTI stood firmly against terrorism and supported “zero tolerance” for terrorist groups, adding that the party wanted to work with the federal government to eliminate terrorism.

On the security situation in K-P, Raja acknowledged that the government’s writ had weakened in some districts and that militant groups wielded significant influence.

However, he said the underlying causes needed to be understood rather than simply blaming the provincial government. PTI lawmakers and ministers, he added, were themselves among those being targeted by militants. “The realities on the ground in K-P cannot be understood while sitting afar in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi,” he maintained.

Raja said a comprehensive strategy should also take into account ground realities, local communities and tribal traditions, while facilitating dialogue among tribes living on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

He maintained that a sustainable policy against terrorism in K-P required consultation between the federal and provincial governments, political parties and local stakeholders, rather than unilateral measures that could potentially fuel further displacement and instability. “Military operations alone cannot resolve the security crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he stated.

Raja said PTI had proposed that the two sides “sit together for 72 hours, discuss the matter thoroughly and then move forward with an agreed policy”.

On negotiations concerning Imran Khan, he said the issue of access to Imran’s personal doctors had remained unresolved. “PTI’s position is that Imran should be transferred to a hospital with an international medical board and doctors personally trusted by his family be involved in his treatment”.

He added that the proposed arrangement for access to Imran included a meeting with his family and lawyers on Tuesday, while the question of meetings with other political figures remained unresolved.

Raja identified two issues as fundamental deal-breakers: the proposed counterterrorism policy in K-P and the treatment of Imran’s personal and legal matters.

Responding to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s claim that many of the political issues had been agreed upon, Raja said minor issues could not outweigh the unresolved major ones.

He underlined that the government was effectively asking PTI to abandon its position on counterterrorism and accept the policy the federal government had decided to implement.

Raja said PTI could not set aside what he described as the personal victimisation of Imran and accept the treatment he was receiving in prison. “These two issues were such that they overshadowed everything else,” he added.

He concluded that it was PTI’s responsibility to speak out and that the party would continue its political struggle regardless of the obstacles it faced.

Amir Muqam rejects PTI’s account of failed talks, says key issues had been agreed upon

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, while presenting the government’s position on the talks, rejected Raja’s account of the breakdown in negotiations, saying the talks had been conducted in good faith and that most of the issues raised by PTI had been resolved.

Muqam said representatives from both sides held extensive discussions, including a session lasting around 12 hours, with the aim of preventing the dispute from escalating into a confrontation between the federal and K-P governments.

He stated that PTI’s concerns relating to Imran had been addressed, adding that an agreement had been reached that Imran would continue to meet his lawyers and family members in prison and that arrangements concerning his medical treatment would also be discussed.

Muqam said the wording of the draft agreement had been revised following discussions with PTI and that the issue concerning Imran’s meetings had effectively been settled.

He said the remaining disagreement concerned the issue of terrorism and the role of the K-P government in implementing the counterterrorism policy.

Muqam said the federal side had told PTI from the outset that the K-P government’s participation was necessary because the matter directly concerned the province. He added that PTI representatives had sought time to consult the provincial leadership in Peshawar and subsequently returned saying they had obtained full authority to negotiate on its behalf.

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Rejecting the claim that the government had demanded an emergency in several districts within 72 hours, Muqam said the proposal was instead to use the 72 hours to formulate and sign an agreed course of action between the provincial government and the interior ministry.

He underscored that the 72-hour timeframe was intended for the two sides to sit together, settle the outstanding issues and determine how the counterterrorism strategy would be implemented.

He also rejected PTI’s claim that the federal government wanted to impose its policy unilaterally on K-P. He said the National Action Plan was a national policy and could not be treated as a policy applicable only to K-P.

Referring to a resolution passed by the K-P Assembly, Muqam said the resolution itself contained provisions concerning the use of police and the Counter Terrorism Department to combat terrorism and opposition to military operations.

He further questioned PTI’s position, arguing that the party could not simultaneously demand that the military be excluded from operations while also seeking greater authority and resources for the provincial government.

He also criticised what he described as changes made by the K-P government to its own counterterrorism policy and said powers had subsequently been withdrawn from relevant institutions. “This is a national issue,” he said, adding that the government could consider legitimate proposals but could not make every provincial demand part of the agreement at that stage.

On the question of whether it had been decided that an emergency would be imposed in K-P, Muqam indicated that the matter was still part of the ongoing discussions and did not confirm that a final decision to impose emergency measures had been taken.

Asad Qaiser says access to Imran at heart of talks deadlock

PTI leader Asad Qaiser also stated that the deadlock in negotiations with the government centred on the party’s demand for access to PTI founder Imran Khan.

“The root cause of the deadlock was that we were under the impression that first you would provide us access to Imran Khan,” he said, adding that PTI had withdrawn all its other demands and retained only the request for its political leadership to meet Imran.

In a post on X, Qaiser said the government had told PTI that Imran would not be part of the agreement and that his involvement was “not under consideration” at that stage. He stated that PTI should be able to consult Imran on major policy decisions, just as other political parties consult their leadership.

“If the PML-N consults Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif on every matter, or the PPP consults Bilawal Bhutto and Asif Zardari, then our leader Imran Khan — who is the most popular leader and is in jail — shouldn’t we consult him on whatever policy is made?” Qaiser asked. “Shouldn’t we take his direction? So that’s our biggest issue,” he said.

Rejecting the suggestion that PTI was seeking to give the issue of terrorism a political dimension, Qaiser said the party had proposed a mechanism for greater coordination between the federal and provincial governments to address militancy.

He said PTI’s proposed text called for “effective, continuous and meaningful consultation” to eliminate terrorism in K-P, protect lives and property and establish lasting peace.

He further stated that the proposal envisaged regular reviews of existing policies and measures, with amendments where necessary, adding that it also called for authorised representatives of the federal and provincial governments to meet within 72 hours and jointly prepare a “clear, comprehensive, feasible and agreed-upon roadmap” for peace and security.

“All responsible leaders and stakeholders of political parties” would also be included in the process so that the resulting policy could secure wider public trust, Qaiser said.

Earlier on Sunday, the party launched the first phase of its long march from Lakki Marwat to Swabi amid a government-opposition deadlock and mounting political tensions, with no plan for a march towards Islamabad announced so far.

The long march, initially scheduled for September 27, was postponed to October 4, but the standoff between the federal and provincial governments remains unresolved.

On Saturday, talks between the government and opposition failed to break the deadlock over the PTI’s long march, with both sides maintaining their positions and pressing competing demands.

The talks, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, followed an initial round on Friday in which the two sides exchanged their positions but failed to reach an agreement.

The government wanted the PTI to take the initiative by cancelling the march, while the opposition wanted the government to first facilitate a meeting with its jailed founder, according to sources familiar with the talks.