The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) officials on Thursday refuted claims that PTI founder Imran Khan had directed Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and spokesperson Barrister Saif to negotiate with the establishment.
The denial puts an end to swirling rumors on social and mainstream media. Barrister Saif firmly rejected the speculation, stating, “No new negotiation tasks were assigned by the PTI founder.” He explained that Khan’s meeting with Gandapur at Adiala Jail on April 2 focused on governance, terrorism, and regional issues, such as Afghanistan, rather than discussions with the establishment. Additionally, Khan provided administrative directives to Gandapur during the meeting.
Khan’s Stance and Meeting Details
Saif stressed Khan’s position: “He won’t negotiate for personal gain, including jail release.” The two-hour meeting, their first in over a month, also covered institutional tensions and social media criticism of PTI leaders. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had earlier dismissed deal rumours, noting only initial contact had resumed, not full talks.
Read: Imran Khan Tasks CM Gandapur and Saif with Establishment Talks
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram doubled down, calling the reports “false” and misleading. “No one pushed Khan to negotiate,” he told a news channel. He clarified the discussion centred on K-P governance and party affairs, with Gandapur set to share Khan’s instructions with PTI’s political committee.
