RAWALPINDI: delegation of Pakistani doctors and businessmen based in the United States recently met with a senior official in Islamabad and Imran Khan the founding chairman of PTI at Adiala Jail.
These efforts are part of PTI’s broader attempt to secure relief for Imran Khan. The backchannel negotiations taking place are distinct from the previous discussions held between PTI and relevant circles. While there is speculation that backchannel talks between PTI and the establishment may resume, no tangible progress has been made in these efforts so far.
Some PTI leaders, who have previously engaged in dialogues with the establishment, are actively working to revive these backchannel negotiations. However, the military establishment has consistently maintained that it will not engage with political parties or politicians, asserting that political parties themselves must address political matters. Despite this stance, certain PTI leaders have continued to express hopes of resuming these backchannel talks.
According to sources familiar with the discussions involving the Pakistani-American delegation, the success of these efforts largely depends on the behavior of PTI and Imran Khan, particularly in relation to the party’s social media presence. PTI’s social media platforms, along with its foreign chapters especially in the United States and the United Kingdom have been outspoken in their criticism of the military and its leadership. These platforms have run a series of campaigns targeting the military, spreading false information, and attempting to exert pressure on key global capitals like Washington and London to secure Imran Khan’s release.
