- Proposal for Sohail Afridi’s return as CM not being entertained.
- Sources rule out possibility of shifting PTI founder to Banigala.
- Imran’s sisters agree to refrain from political activities: sources.
ISLAMABAD: The backchannel contacts between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the authorities, which have recently worked in the release of Imran Khan’s two sisters, may move forward within a clearly defined scope, with two major political issues — Imran Khan and the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — effectively off the table.
Sources familiar with the backchannel discussions say that neither any relief for the former prime minister nor any change in the existing political arrangement in KP is open to discussion at this stage. This also means that any proposal involving the return of Sohail Afridi as chief minister is not being entertained.
The sources said that while the involvement of Imran Khan’s sisters has opened a new channel of communication, it does not imply that the authorities are prepared to revisit their position on these two issues. Any understanding emerging from the contacts would, therefore, have to remain within the limits of what can be discussed without touching Imran Khan’s political and legal position or the provincial government in KP.
The situation concerning Bushra Bibi, however, is different. According to the sources, her case and possible relief measures can be discussed as part of the ongoing engagement. One option that could be considered is her shifting to Banigala.
When specifically asked whether Imran Khan could also be shifted to Banigala, sources familiar with the backchannel contacts ruled out such a possibility, making it clear that no such proposal was under consideration, at least for now.
“There is no such option for Imran Khan, at least at this stage,” a source said, distinguishing his case from that of Bushra Bibi.
The recent involvement of Imran Khan’s family in backchannel contacts is being viewed as a significant development in the otherwise strained relationship between the PTI and the authorities. Sources say the sisters have given commitments that they would refrain from political activities that could aggravate tensions and would not target the military leadership or the establishment.
The understanding, according to the sources, is that they would not fuel the confrontation or use their position to escalate the situation.
The development has created room for communication on certain family-related and other limited matters, but it has not altered the authorities’ position on the two central political questions.
For the moment, therefore, the backchannel engagement appears to be focused on exploring limited areas of possible accommodation, particularly concerning Bushra Bibi, rather than negotiating any change in Imran Khan’s situation or the political dispensation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Originally published in The News
