A few PTI leaders have spoken with President Dr. Arif Alvi about attempting to open a dialogue between the establishment and political groups, including the PTI.
According to the PTI sources, President Alvi in theory is in favor of the plan, but it is unclear whether he will actually implement it. The PTI is extremely frustrated with the post-May 9 predicament it is in, but the party is not given the opportunity to resume normal politics.
Background conversations with a few PTI leaders reveal that, despite the party’s official stance on May 9, the party’s leaders sincerely regret what happened that day and how the party faithful responded to Imran Khan’s incarceration. A PTI source stated, “I wish it had never happened,” adding that the May 9 events have seriously hurt the party.
One of the few PTI leaders still invited to speak on TV talk shows on behalf of the party, Ali Muhammad Khan, disclosed to The News that he recently phoned President Alvi to ask him to start a dialogue process with political groups, including the PTI. President Alvi, he claimed, is in principle in favor of this, but Ali Muhammad Khan is unsure whether or not he will take the initiative.
Independent analysts predict that the establishment and the majority of political parties (especially those opposed to the PTI) may not support the President if he launches such a move.
A few weeks ago, Imran Khan sent a message from Attock Prison inviting political parties and the establishment to dialogue through one of his lawyers. But he received no feedback from any side.
When questioned, PTI communication secretary Rauf Hasan responded that the party’s position on starting a dialogue process with other political parties and the establishment was unchanged.
He indicated that he has been meeting with Dr. Alvi and may visit him again in a day or two, but he did not confirm or reject that the President will begin the conversation process in response to the PTI’s call for discussion. He recalled that Imran Khan himself had requested communication with the authorities and political parties.
When asked if the PTI leaders now regret what happened on May 9, Rauf responded that the PTI’s policy on May 9 was to have the situation investigated by an independent judicial panel in order to punish those involved, regardless of who they were. Then, he continued, “We all adore Pakistan, and nobody would ever want to see Pakistan hurt in any way. He claimed that May 9’s events had harmed him as well.
The communications secretary for the PTI claimed that ever since he assumed his current position, he has made it clear that the PTI is a political party that supports political conflict within the bounds of the law and the constitution.
However, despite their best efforts, the PTI and the establishment have not established touch, according to party insiders who spoke to this correspondent in the meanwhile. Imran Khan and the PTI badly desire to resolve their disputes with the establishment, but the events of May 9 have made things extremely difficult for Tehreek-e-Insaf.
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