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Both the government and the PTI on Friday denied any alleged offer made to move former prime minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Banigala or any other location amid ongoing negotiations to bring down political temperatures.<\/p>\n
Since Imran\u2019s incarceration<\/a> last year in several cases, PTI\u2019s relations with the government and the establishment have deteriorated sharply, marked by protests that frequently escalated into violence<\/a> amid state repression<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following the turmoil, Imran established a five-member committee<\/a> to hold talks with \u201canyone\u201d, signalling a shift in PTI lawmakers\u2019 stance in parliament. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also formed a committee with ruling coalition members<\/a>.<\/p>\n The first meeting<\/a> between the two sides took place on December 23, while the second one<\/a> occurred yesterday (January 2). So far, the two sides have not made significant headway, as the PTI leadership sought frequent meetings with Imran to finalise their list of demands. The government and the opposition will meet again, possibly next week.<\/p>\n Amid the scenario, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry claimed<\/a> that Imran said he was offered a deal to be relocated to his Banigala residence. Rumours regarding the alleged development have also been circulating in the media. Imran\u2019s sister Aleema Khan similarly said<\/a> last month that he had rejected offers of house arrest in Banigala.<\/p>\n Addressing the matter in an interview on DawnNews TV<\/em> programme \u2018Doosra Rukh\u2019 today, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that Imran had \u201ccategorically stated\u201d that his imprisonment was illegal and he would reject any offers to be moved to other locations.<\/p>\n \u201cKhan sahib<\/em> is not compromising on that. We have not received any offers to move him nor will we consider any.\u201d<\/p>\n Apparently referring to talks with the establishment, Gohar said the party had no backdoor contacts albeit there was a period before the November 26 protests in Islamabad when \u201cwe had a good contact established but since then there has been nothing\u201d.<\/p>\n He clarified that only contact was established and both sides were going forward in a \u201cpositive direction\u201d in the aforementioned instance and he did not mean that negotiations were kicked off.<\/p>\n \u201cThe current negotiations are the only ones ongoing. We have no backdoor channels and this committee of ours is the one that is engaging in talks,\u201d he said, referring to the team set up to converse with the government side.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is never too late in politics to discuss a matter,\u201d Gohar stated.<\/p>\n Questioned about the halt in the progress of the previous contact, Gohar said Imran\u2019s overnight arrest<\/a> in another case despite being granted bail had \u201cplayed a role\u201d in the matter.<\/p>\n He said the PTI was \u201cback at square one, so if this committee is able to move forward, it will be a success\u201d.<\/p>\n When asked about Prime Minister\u2019s aide Rana Sanaullah\u2019s statement<\/a> about the leaders of the three big parties coming to the table, the PTI chairman called it an \u201cideal situation\u201d but said that it was unlikely due to the \u201cdeeply-rooted political differences\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe there will come a point when we can all sit at the table,\u201d Gohar said. \u201cRight now, however, we have ruled that out. At the moment, we want the committees to focus on the ongoing negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n