• Demands reversal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emergency measures, release of political prisoners and Imran’s access to his personal physicians
• Claims party’s ‘popularity’ still intact despite ‘coercion’
ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Wednesday called on the government to take confidence-building measures (CBMs) to pave the way for meaningful dialogue, demanding the reversal of what it described as “unlawful” measures, restoration of its provincial government’s mandate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and release of political prisoners.
In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said meaningful negotiations required concrete action rather than political statements. “If the government was genuinely serious about dialogue, it should take steps to build trust,” he added.
Mr Akram demanded the reversal of measures the party considered unlawful, restoration of its provincial government’s mandate and release of political prisoners whose continued detention, he said, could not be legally justified.
He also called for the protection of PTI founder Imran Khan’s constitutional and fundamental rights, including lawful meetings with his lawyers and family, fair and timely proceedings in his and his wife’s cases, and medical treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians in accordance with applicable court orders.
Mr Akram condemned raids on homes, detentions and pressure on elected representatives and party workers in Punjab and KP, alleging that these actions were intended to intimidate political opponents.
PTI’s ‘popularity’
Rejecting Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s remarks about the party’s political standing, Mr Akram challenged all ruling coalition parties to contest elections against the PTI under a single banner. He said they would suffer a “crushing defeat in a free and fair contest, even today”.
On Tuesday, Mr Tarar had said a formal ban on the PTI was no longer needed after the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in KP, arguing that the party had “lost power” in the province because of security and counterterrorism failures.
Mr Akram said the government’s use of “coercive measures and political pressure” had failed to diminish the PTI’s public support. He described the party as Pakistan’s “leading federal political force” and its founder, Imran Khan, as the “only leader enjoying widespread public support across the country”.
Rejecting governor’s rule and the emergency in KP, he described the measures as an “attempt to undermine the province’s electoral mandate”. He said the party’s strength stemmed from its connection with the people rather than its control of government offices.
He added that no “handpicked administration should be allowed to dictate” the political future of around 50 million residents without respecting their democratic choices and constitutional rights.
Mr Akram insisted that decisions concerning the province’s governance, resources, and future must involve its elected representatives and local population.
Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2026