No Backdoor Talks Underway Between PTI and Federal Government, Says Shaukat Yousafzai

PESHAWAR:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai has denied reports of backchannel negotiations between the federal government and his party, saying that any talks would be held openly.

In a statement, Yousafzai said discussions during the PTI parliamentary party meeting were an internal party matter, adding that the party needed to reassess its political strategy.

He said the widening gap between state institutions and PTI had primarily benefited the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The PTI leader maintained that the prime minister and the opposition leader had taken too long to meet. He also dismissed reports of a lack of confidence in Mahmood Khan Achakzai as baseless.

Yousafzai accused the federal government of treating Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unfairly from the outset and urged the prime minister to ensure the immediate payment of all outstanding dues owed to the province.

He also expressed concern over the whereabouts of KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar and Babar Saleem Swati, saying their current status was unclear. He added that if the three leaders were wanted in any cases, they should be presented before the courts.

Yousafzai alleged that the elected provincial government had been removed under the pretext of non-cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. However, he stressed that the National Action Plan should be implemented to address the threat of terrorism.

Commenting on PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment, Yousafzai said YouTubers were benefiting the most from his continued incarceration.

He acknowledged that the party had been unable to secure any relief for Imran Khan over the past three years, highlighting the challenges facing PTI’s political strategy.

Tighten the final two paragraphsUse more neutral political wording