<\/p>\n
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan is still ready to come to the table, if the establishment is prepared to negotiate, party leader Azam Khan Swati has claimed, adding that he had the PTI founder\u2019s blessing to initiate talks to secure his freedom.<\/p>\n
In a lengthy video message released to \u2014 in his words \u2014 clear the air following his recent meeting with the party founder in Adiala jail, Mr Swati criticised \u201ccertain vloggers and anchors for selling a false story\u201d, without naming anyone.<\/p>\n
In the midst of a widening rift between the party\u2019s ranks in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Mr Swati also backed KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI KP leader Junaid Akbar and party general secretary Salman Akram Raja, saying that they were \u201cpicked by Imran Khan himself\u201d.<\/p>\n
Recounting his interaction with Mr Khan and Bushra Bibi in prison, he said he had repeatedly told the party founder he had \u201ckhotay sikkay\u201d (counterfeit coins) in his pocket.<\/p>\n
He also recounted a meeting with Mr Khan where, he claimed, the party leader had tasked him to reach out to Gen Asim Munir \u2014 following the latter\u2019s app\u00adointment in Dec 2022 \u2014 to open the door for negotiations. <\/p>\n
Mr Swati claimed that after this meeting, he had reached out to someone close to Gen Munir, a renowned anchorperson and a certain \u201cDr Tanveer\u201d (thought to be a reference to Pakistani-American businessman Tanveer Ahmed), but to no avail.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me permission to work with Dr [Arif] Alvi and others to open the doors for talks,\u201d Mr Swati claimed to have asked the PTI chief in their latest meeting, adding that Mr Khan gave him his blessing to do so.<\/p>\n
The former minister claimed that the PTI founder reposed trust in his efforts, as he had stood with him through thick and thin.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they are ready for talks, I am willing \u2014 like I was from day one,\u201d he quoted the jailed ex-PM as saying.<\/p>\n
Beseeching vloggers and anchorpersons to stop sowing discord and work towards securing Imran Khan\u2019s release, he also said that a negative campaign had been started against PTI USA leaders and others who had recently visited Pakistan.<\/p>\n
This is being interpreted as a reference to a delegation of prominent Pakistani-Americans \u2014 under the banner of First Pakistan Global \u2014 who recently met with establishment figures. Reportedly, the agenda of that meeting revolved around efforts to secure Mr Khan release.<\/p>\n
But in the wake of news of the meeting going public, a schism has emerged among PTI\u2019s diaspora supporters \u2014 with one side arguing that these people had no mandate to negotiate on behalf of the party.<\/p>\n
Hitting out at those claiming that Mr Khan had given him a \u201cshut up call\u201d for proposing talks with the establishment, Mr Swati maintained that no one had rendered more sacrifices, apart from martyrs, than him and his family. \u201cI have faced torture and I have shared all details with Imran Khan. I am the one who cared about the 1,100 workers in jail and made efforts to secure their bails.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan is still ready to come to the table, if the establishment is prepared to negotiate, party leader Azam Khan Swati has claimed, adding that he had the PTI founder\u2019s blessing to initiate talks to secure his freedom. 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