PTI Must Lead Negotiations for Imran Khan’s Release, Says Ali Muhammad Khan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Member of the National Assembly Ali Muhammad Khan has said that the party must take the lead in negotiations to secure the release of its founder, Imran Khan, warning that he will pursue his own course of action if the party leadership fails to make serious efforts.
Speaking on ARY News’ programme hosted by Muhammad Malik, Ali Muhammad Khan said that if Mahmood Khan Achakzai had accepted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation to hold talks in June, the situation might have progressed and Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, might not have had to endure the intense heat of Adiala Jail.
“I have appealed several times on the parliamentary party platform and on the floor of the National Assembly for negotiations to begin,” he said.
Ali Muhammad Khan reiterated that he remained in favour of unconditional negotiations conducted in good faith. He argued that an invitation from the prime minister should be treated as an offer from the head of Pakistan’s government rather than as a personal invitation from an individual.
He said the invitation to the opposition leader had been extended because of the PTI’s role in politics, adding that the party therefore needed to take responsibility for moving the negotiation process forward.
PTI Leadership Urged to Take Initiative
The PTI leader said the party’s chairman, secretary-general and other senior leaders should step forward and work towards securing Imran Khan’s release.
"اگر اچکزئی وزیراعظم کی دعوت پر بیٹھ جاتے تو بانی اور بشریٰ بی بی کو اڈیالہ کی گرمی نہ گزارنی پڑتی" علی محمدخان
#ARYNews #Khabar https://t.co/zcE9zU9Gxa
— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) October 15, 2026
He urged the party to seek support from other political figures, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Nasir Abbas, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and leaders of the Awami National Party (ANP).
However, he stressed that while other political leaders could help facilitate dialogue, the PTI itself must lead the negotiations.
“If someone refuses to sit for talks, the PTI chairman should personally take part in the negotiations,” he said.
Ali Muhammad Khan warned that if the party did not make serious efforts to secure Imran Khan’s release, he would decide on his own future course of action.
“My politics will begin from the point where Imran Khan comes out of jail,” he said, emphasising that his priority was the release of the PTI founder.
He added that Imran Khan was 74 years old and should not have to spend even a single unnecessary day behind bars.
‘If a Wrong Decision Has Kept My Leader in Jail, Then To Hell With It’
Speaking candidly about disagreements over political strategy, Ali Muhammad Khan said his remarks might sound harsh, but his primary concern was Imran Khan.
“I respect everyone, but if a wrong decision has kept my leader in jail, then to hell with it, because I am concerned about Imran Khan,” he said.
His comments appeared to reflect frustration over the lack of progress in efforts to secure the PTI founder’s release.
Questions Raised Over Effectiveness of Protests
The PTI leader also referred to the October 4, 2024, protest, saying he had even told Imran Khan that the number of participants was far lower than some people had claimed.
According to Ali Muhammad Khan’s estimate, between 3,000 and 5,000 people took part, with the number possibly exceeding 10,000 at most. He contrasted this with claims that the gathering had attracted 100,000 participants.
He argued that protests were unlikely to deliver the desired results under the prevailing circumstances and expressed limited optimism about obtaining relief through the courts.
According to him, the judicial system had changed significantly following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, making it difficult to rely on the same expectations of judicial relief as before.
Political Dialogue Preferred Over a Deal
Ali Muhammad Khan maintained that the way forward was political dialogue and negotiations rather than a deal.
He said Imran Khan had spent approximately two years in jail, while protests had failed to produce the desired outcome and previous negotiations had not yielded meaningful results.
He argued that the consequences of the continuing political deadlock were being borne primarily by Imran Khan.
The PTI leader’s remarks highlight differences over the party’s strategy for securing its founder’s release, with Ali Muhammad Khan calling for a more direct negotiating role for the party leadership and renewed engagement with political opponents.
