Lahore
Pakistan’s coalition government criticized Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for seeking talks with the military instead of engaging with political parties, challenging PTI’s claim of supporting civilian supremacy.
The criticism came after Shehryar Afridi, a senior PTI leader, indicated that the party would only negotiate with the military, excluding political parties like the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). In response, Khawaja Saad Rafiq of the PML-N said that PTI couldn’t demand civilian control while turning to the military for dialogue, accusing Khan of being hypocritical in his approach to politics.
Similarly, PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah accused PTI of seeking to gain power through the military, highlighting PTI’s inconsistency in blaming the government while engaging with the establishment. PPP’s Faisal Karim Kundi also criticized PTI for inviting military interference in politics, stating that the PPP has always been against such involvement.
Meanwhile, PTI’s Shibli Faraz, leader of the opposition in the Senate, emphasized the party’s readiness to negotiate but insisted on a suitable environment that respects PTI’s mandate and dismisses cases against its members. He did not specify whether PTI would negotiate with the military or political parties. Since Imran Khan’s removal in April 2022, PTI has faced a crackdown following the May 9 violence after his arrest, with Khan himself currently in jail on multiple convictions.
