Contacts with Imran Khan Through Bushra Bibi, but Khan Remains Firm, Claims Najam Sethi
LAHORE: Senior journalist and political analyst Najam Sethi has claimed that efforts to maintain contact with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan are continuing through various channels, including his wife Bushra Bibi, but said Khan remains firm on his position and demands.
Speaking on his television programme, Sethi said that attempts to establish communication with Imran Khan were being made regularly.
“Sometimes someone is sent to meet him, and sometimes someone else is sent. Sometimes Imran Khan agrees to meet them, while at other times he refuses,” Sethi said, adding that regular contact was being maintained through Bushra Bibi.
According to Sethi, however, reports indicate that Imran Khan remains firm on his position and demands.
Discussing PTI’s proposed September 27 long march, Sethi claimed that the demands for which the party had announced the protest would not be accepted by the government or the state.
He said PTI’s reported strategy to extend the march until October 7 could be aimed at allowing time for possible progress through back-channel negotiations or for court decisions that could go in the party’s favour.
عمران خان سے رابطے ہیں کبھی کسی کو بھیج دیتے ہیں کبھی کسی کو بھیج دیتے ہیں کبھی عمران خان مل لیتے ہیں کبھی عمران خان کہتے ہیں میں نے ان سے نہیں ملنا اور بشری بی بی کے ذریعے تو ریگولر رابطے ہیں مگر رپورٹس کے مطابق عمران خان ڈٹے ہوئے ہیں ! نجم سیٹھی ۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/3SfxqKN0jt
— AMJAD KHAN (@iAmjadKhann) September 21, 2026
Commenting on the possible state response to the protest, Sethi warned that if PTI attempted to use its street power, the state could respond with significant force.
He referred to the events of 2024, saying that neither Bushra Bibi nor then-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had anticipated the response they faced at the time. He claimed that the experience kept them from taking to the streets again for a considerable period.
Sethi said he expected the state’s response to PTI’s proposed protest to be similar to what was witnessed in 2024.
