- Najam Sethi says no reconciliation is possible between Imran Khan and the establishment.
- He claims Khan would neither seek release through a deal nor stay politically inactive after leaving prison.
- Sethi says President Zardari backs the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.
- He also claims the PPP is quietly consulting on creating new provinces.
Senior journalist and political analyst Najam Sethi has said he sees no chance of a settlement between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the establishment. In his view, neither side is likely to reach an understanding with the other.
Sethi made the remarks on his programme, where he also touched on a reported meeting between the president and the interior minister, the future of PCB Hotels and the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.
Why Sethi sees no deal
According to Sethi, Khan and the establishment cannot come onto the same page. He said there was no possibility of a deal between them.
He argued that Khan regards himself as the most popular political leader in the country. Sethi claimed Khan is confident that he would return as prime minister if free and fair elections were held.
According to Sethi, Khan would not agree to obtain his release through an arrangement with the establishment. Nor, he said, would Khan be willing to stay out of politics once he leaves prison.
Zardari–Naqvi meeting and PCB Hotels
Sethi also commented on a reported meeting in Nawabshah between President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. He said the two discussed political as well as business matters.
On the business side, Sethi claimed that several influential circles want to acquire the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Hotels. He said Zardari was reportedly among those interested in the deal.
28th Amendment and new provinces
On constitutional questions, Sethi said President Zardari has expressed support for the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.
He further claimed that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is holding consultations behind the scenes on creating new provinces. According to Sethi, the party wants to finalise that process.
Analysis and claims, not official positions
The points above are Sethi's own assessments and claims. The material available does not include any response from the PTI, the presidency, the interior minister, the PPP or the PCB.
Readers should therefore treat the remarks on Khan's intentions, the PCB Hotels interest and the PPP's consultations as unconfirmed commentary rather than established fact.
Questions and answers
What did Najam Sethi say about Imran Khan and the establishment?
Sethi said the two sides cannot come onto the same page and that no deal between them is possible. He claimed Khan would not seek release through an understanding and would not stay politically inactive after leaving prison.
What did Sethi claim about PCB Hotels?
He claimed that several influential circles are interested in acquiring the PCB Hotels. He said President Asif Ali Zardari was reportedly among those interested.
What did Sethi say about the 28th Constitutional Amendment?
He said President Zardari has expressed support for the proposed amendment. He also claimed the PPP is quietly consulting on creating new provinces and wants to finalise the process.
Image: Usman.pg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
