RAWALPINDI:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has temporarily postponed his call for a civil disobedience movement, according to his sister, Aleema Khan. Speaking to the media on Tuesday after meeting him in Adiala Jail, Aleema revealed that Imran had considered urging overseas Pakistanis to stop remittances if his two demands were not met—a judicial inquiry into the incidents of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, along with the release of PTI workers.
“Overseas Pakistanis have expressed readiness to halt sending money, but PTI members advised Imran Khan to delay the decision to avoid harming the country,” Aleema stated. She added that Imran is closely considering these concerns and has decided to wait a few more days before taking any drastic measures.
Despite his distress, Aleema said Imran remains steadfast in his demands and warned that failure to address them could lead to the call for halting remittances.
Earlier, Imran had threatened a civil disobedience movement via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, setting December 14 as the starting date. He also announced a five-member committee to negotiate with the federal government on his demands.
However, government officials rejected the prospect of talks under the threat of civil disobedience. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking in the National Assembly, emphasized that dialogue cannot occur “at gunpoint.” Asif dismissed the PTI’s negotiation committee as insincere and criticized the party’s actions, particularly the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s protests in Islamabad.
PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat called for national unity and dialogue to address the ongoing crisis, stressing the importance of clear terms of reference (TORs) for any negotiations. He also urged the government to address security issues in his constituency and take firm action against lawbreakers.
Responding to Marwat, Political Adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, reiterated the government’s openness to dialogue but urged PTI to engage through formal channels. He suggested that the PTI approach the Speaker’s Office as a neutral venue for discussions.
Sanaullah emphasized that healthy dialogue between opposition and government is vital for strengthening democracy. He expressed hope that the Prime Minister would consult allied parties if PTI demonstrated seriousness in pursuing talks.
Khawaja Asif also highlighted the lack of formal steps from PTI to initiate dialogue, urging the party to prioritize constitutional obligations over political confrontations. He warned that threats and aggressive rhetoric would only deepen divisions.
PTI lawmakers expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue but maintained that they would not “beg” for talks. They also criticized the government’s handling of protests in Islamabad on November 26.
PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan condemned the crackdown on protesters, accusing the government of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. “If you think excluding Imran Khan will stabilize the country, go ahead and try,” he remarked.
