Jailed allies of Pakistan’s ex-PM Khan urge dialogue to end political crisis

Five senior leaders of Pakistan’s opposition party led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan have called for nationwide dialogue, saying talks are the only way to pull the country out of a prolonged political, economic and social crisis.

The appeal, issued in a joint letter from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail and released through their lawyers, came the same day a special Pakistani court sentenced Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to a combined 17 years in prison each in a second case linked to alleged mishandling of state gifts.

The letter was signed by former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid, former provincial governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema, senior party leader Ejaz Chaudhry and former Punjab minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed.

In the statement, the jailed leaders said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership believed dialogue at all levels was the only workable solution to the country’s deepening crisis, warning that political instability, economic hardship and social unrest had persisted for more than three years.

They urged political actors to pursue their objectives through peaceful, constitutional and democratic means, arguing that negotiations - not confrontation - were essential to restoring stability and rebuilding public trust in state institutions.

The letter said Khan had tasked Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, an alliance that campaigns for constitutional supremacy, with initiating consultations with political parties to help forge a national consensus. Broad-based engagement, it added, could lead to “meaningful and result-oriented” talks.

The imprisoned leaders also expressed hope that veteran politician Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas would play a constructive role in guiding the country through what they described as a critical period.

It is not the first push for reconciliation from PTI figures. Ex-party leader Imran Ismail recently told Nukta that dialogue with the government was the only viable solution and that direct confrontation with the country’s establishment would be counterproductive. He said initial hesitations gave way to optimism as the government appeared willing for talks, with his primary aim being relief for PTI and resolution of ongoing disputes.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

PTI’s leadership has been largely sidelined since unrest erupted on May 9, 2023, following Khan’s arrest, when protests across the country turned violent and included attacks on military-related sites. Authorities responded with mass arrests and prosecutions, while some party figures later quit politics or distanced themselves from PTI.

Pakistan has since faced persistent political uncertainty alongside high inflation, fiscal pressure and strained civil-military relations. Although calls for reconciliation have surfaced intermittently from political and civil society groups, sustained engagement among key stakeholders has yet to materialize.