PESHAWAR: Making a significant claim, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza has said that an offer being made to Imran Khan for the nullification of his disqualification.
“The PTI founder did not demand the release of any [party] leader during the talks [with the government]. But in fact, an offer is being made to set aside his disqualification within three months,” Raza said while speaking on Geo News‘ programme “Capital Talk” on Tuesday.
The politician’s remarks came after a well-placed source told The News that the Imran Khan-founded party was once again seeking backchannel talks with the establishment, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reportedly playing a key role in the effort.
The source insisted that PTI was eager to restart the process and views Gandapur as the central figure, who could make it happen. So far, there is no indication that the other side is willing to engage.
It is pertinent to know that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Khan in August 2023 or five years from holding any public office following a trial court’s verdict in the first Toshakahana case.
The electoral body had said that the ex-PM was guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017.
The PTI founder was again disqualified for 10 years in July 2024 after an accountability court sentenced him to 14 years in the New Toshakhan case — which is not to be mixed with the previous case.The SIC chief’s remarks pertaining to a deal aren’t the first time such claims have come to the fore relating to a deal offered to the incarcerated former prime minister.
KP CM Gandapur, earlier this month, claimed that a proposal was made to transfer Khan Bani Gala, Nathia Gali, or the CM House but no progress was made due to his insistence on the release of all detained workers before his transfer.
Meanwhile, reports suggesting backdoor talks came after the weeks-long negotiations between the PTI and the ruling coalition were stalled following the former’s refusal to continue on with the parleys citing the latter’s failure to form a judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots and November 2024 protests in Islamabad.
