Reduce Pressure First for Talks to Proceed, Says Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai

Islamabad: Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai has said that negotiations cannot move forward unless pressure is reduced, stressing that “we have already said we are ready for talks, but things are not in our hands.”

Speaking to the media, he criticized the detention of what he described as “innocent women and children,” questioning how meaningful dialogue could take place under such circumstances. He also raised concerns over restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan, asking what crime justified limiting his access to visitors.

Achakzai further alleged that Khan’s family members have faced mistreatment outside jail and emphasized that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as a representative of the province, should not be denied access to his leader.

He stated that Imran Khan is not an ordinary individual and, being in state custody, the government is responsible for his well-being. He called for allowing Khan’s personal doctors to examine him and criticized the lack of transparency regarding his health.

The opposition leader added that concerns raised by Khan’s sisters about his health are valid and said that transferring him to a hospital without prior information was inappropriate.