Rana Sanaullah Rejects External Pressure for Imran Khan’s Release, Talks About Political Stability and Future Negotiations
Islamabad:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s political advisor**, **Rana Sanaullah**, has stated that **no foreign country** has officially contacted Pakistan or the government regarding the **release of Imran Khan**. He dismissed the claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that foreign lobbies, particularly in the **United States**, are pressuring Pakistan to free the former prime minister.
Speaking to the media, Rana Sanaullah clarified that **PTI** had hired **lobbying firms** in the U.S., which are often linked with **Jewish and Indian lobbies**. He emphasized that these groups had previously spent money to malign Pakistan’s image during elections and continue to issue statements that hold no real weight. According to him, no official message or request has been communicated by any country, including the U.S., regarding Imran Khan’s release.
### **Military Trials Followed Legal Procedures**
When asked about external pressure regarding the decisions made by **military courts**, Rana Sanaullah explained that the **Army Act** under which the **military trials** of suspects involved in the **May 9th incidents** were conducted, is not a form of **martial law**. He assured that **legal procedures** had been strictly followed, with cases involving attacks on military installations being handled by military courts, as per **Pakistan’s international agreements**. He further stated that similar trials have been held in the past under the same legal framework.
### **Rise of Disruptive Politics in 2014**
Rana Sanaullah also discussed the **political instability** in Pakistan, which he believes began in **2014**. He pointed out that **disruptive politics**, **hate-filled rhetoric**, and the **politics of humiliation** started with the **2014 protests** led by PTI. He said that this era marked a shift in Pakistan’s political landscape, with **dharna politics** (protest sit-ins) and **blackmailing tactics** becoming prominent.
Reflecting on the political history of Pakistan, he mentioned that while there were **political confrontations** between the **Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)** and **PML-N** in the 1990s, the **type of aggressive, disruptive politics** witnessed after 2014 was unprecedented. Despite political rivalry, dialogue and negotiations had continued between the major political parties in the past, which was missing during the period of **PTI’s dharnas** and **provocative actions**.
### **Prospects of Political Negotiations in the Future**
On the possibility of a shift towards **negotiated politics**, Rana Sanaullah expressed optimism, calling it a **positive development** that both major political parties had decided to sit down and discuss matters. He stated that efforts would be made to resolve issues through **political negotiations** rather than through protests and violent tactics.
The **PTI** and the government’s **negotiating committees** are scheduled to meet on **January 2**, where they will continue the dialogue initiated in the **first meeting**. Rana Sanaullah assured that the government would respond to PTI’s **demands** after consulting with its leadership, and he believes that through **further discussions**, a middle ground can be found. He added that within the next **two to three meetings**, it would be clearer whether any significant progress could be made in resolving political issues.
This dialogue, according to him, is a step toward reducing the **disruptive political climate** and focusing on **constructive political discourse** for the **future of Pakistan**.
