Imran Khan, Not the Establishment, is the Biggest Obstacle in Talks: Rana Sanaullah
ISLAMABAD Web Desk: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has said that the biggest hurdle in meaningful negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is Imran Khan himself, not the establishment.
Speaking to Media, Rana Sanaullah emphasized that the establishment has already clarified its stance regarding political dialogue, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also extended an offer for negotiations to PTI during his recent address in the National Assembly. However, opposition leader Omar Ayub rejected the offer disrespectfully on the same floor.
He noted that Imran Khan has never been interested in political dialogue, neither in the past nor now. According to Rana Sanaullah, purposeful negotiations are essential, but Imran Khan remains the primary obstacle in moving forward.
He further claimed that PTI’s second-tier leadership is in favor of talks with the government. However, despite their willingness, Imran Khan has dismissed these efforts, which has led to incidents like the one on November 26.
The advisor pointed out that the November 26 episode was not only a severe setback to potential negotiations but also demonstrated that Imran Khan disregards the opinions of his party’s second-tier leadership. He stated that while the government maintains contact with PTI’s second-tier leaders, they are powerless as Imran Khan’s veto renders them ineffective.
Some political analysts argue that for meaningful negotiations with the government, PTI needs to revisit its two-year policy of direct confrontation with the military and its former and current leadership.
However, Rana Sanaullah reiterated that the military had already made its position on political talks clear on May 8 this year. Referring to a statement by the Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), he highlighted that all political parties are respected institutions, but if any political group attacks its own army, no dialogue can take place with such a group.
The DG ISPR had said that the only path for such disruptive groups is to apologize to the nation, abandon politics of hatred, and commit to constructive politics. He further stressed that any dialogue process should take place solely between political parties, as the army should not be involved in such matters.
While PTI’s second-tier leadership is reportedly inclined toward negotiations, PTI’s social media and overseas supporters launched an anti-military campaign after the November 26 incident. In response to this, the recent meeting of formation commanders expressed concern over the malicious propaganda. They noted that while the army was tasked with securing the capital and providing a safe environment for important delegations, a deliberate smear campaign was launched.
The statement highlighted that certain political elements were making premeditated and coordinated efforts to create divisions between the Pakistani people, the armed forces, and national institutions. It further stated that these attempts, allegedly encouraged and supported by external actors, will not succeed.
The commanders’ meeting emphasized the need for the government to enforce strict regulations to prevent the misuse of freedom of speech for spreading falsehood, toxicity, and divisive rhetoric. The meeting stressed identifying those responsible for spreading fake news for political and financial gains and bringing them to justice.