Islamabad, Feb 7: The Pakistani government has once again extended an invitation to Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for fresh discussions just ahead of its planned protest against alleged election manipulation from the previous year.
PTI has claimed that it won the general elections held on February 8, 2024, but accuses the government of robbing its mandate through widespread rigging, allegations which have been denied by both the government and election authorities.
This dispute over election results has led to tensions between PTI and the government, resulting in several protests in the past year, destabilizing the political environment. However, in December, both parties agreed to enter negotiations to resolve the ongoing political impasse and address the opposition’s concerns.
Unfortunately, after three rounds of talks, discussions broke down over PTI’s demands for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the protests that took place on May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024. As the talks stalled, PTI returned to its protest politics, with its imprisoned leader, Khan, urging followers to rally against the alleged rigging on the first anniversary of the elections.
This prompted National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who had previously facilitated the talks, to announce a new opportunity for negotiations, stating that the door for talks had never been fully closed.
Sadiq emphasized that PTI had remained in contact with the government and expressed his respect for Khan’s strong leadership, acknowledging the challenges of dealing with the opposition.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed the formation of a parliamentary committee, involving members from both the government and PTI, to discuss the matter, but no progress had been made.
Meanwhile, PTI’s spokesperson, Hamid Raza, shared a statement on social media claiming the opposition’s negotiation committee had been dissolved following Khan’s orders.
Before engaging in fresh talks, PTI is seeking to mobilize its support base through protests. The party has announced plans for a large rally in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on February 8 to mark what it calls a “black day” in reference to its alleged stolen mandate from the February 2024 elections. Smaller protests will also take place across other regions of the country, as directed by Khan.
PTI also claimed that the Punjab government had denied permission for a rally at the iconic Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, and alleged that police raids were underway to arrest PTI leaders and disrupt their protest plans.
Violence broke out during protests on May 9, 2023, following Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces at the Islamabad High Court. PTI workers vandalized military properties, including the Jinnah House and the ISI office in Faisalabad. Khan contended that he was being politically targeted in the aftermath of those protests.
In November, Khan called for a “final push” with nationwide protests on November 26, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate and the release of party members. His call saw thousands of supporters gathering in Islamabad, but they were met with a police crackdown, resulting in over 1,400 arrests.
