Islamabad, December 14, 2024: Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai has called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to postpone its planned civil disobedience movement.
Speaking to a private news channel on Saturday, Achakzai, who also heads the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), stressed the importance of resolving the country’s pressing issues through dialogue. He highlighted the need for discussions to focus on a clear roadmap for the government’s transition, stating, “If problems can be resolved through dialogue, there’s nothing better. However, if talks fail, the movement will have to proceed.”
Achakzai proposed that successful negotiations should pave the way for general elections within four months. He also announced plans to visit Peshawar on Sunday, following PTI’s invitation, to offer prayers for the martyrs of Kurram and PTI.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar reaffirmed the party’s willingness to engage in dialogue but noted that demands, not preconditions, had been presented. Addressing the media in Islamabad, he criticized the government’s handling of the November protest, stating, “Globally, protests occur without bloodshed. Here, tear gas shelling started before protesters even assembled.”
Barrister Gohar reiterated PTI’s resolve for dialogue, referencing the party’s founder, Imran Khan, who had long advocated for negotiations. However, he lamented that previous talks were prematurely interrupted. “Enough is enough,” Gohar added. “It’s time to steer the country towards improvement.”
PTI has warned of launching a civil disobedience movement if the government does not engage in serious negotiations. This threat was met with sharp criticism from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who termed it “enmity with Pakistan.”
Imran Khan, the jailed PTI founder, echoed the ultimatum in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He demanded a judicial inquiry into the May 9, 2023 riots, the November 26 crackdown on PTI protesters, and the release of “political prisoners.” Khan announced a five-member committee—comprising Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja, and Asad Qaiser—to negotiate with the federal government. The committee’s mandate includes addressing the release of political prisoners and forming a judicial commission to investigate the aforementioned events.
In response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif challenged PTI’s resolve to proceed with the civil disobedience movement after what he described as “failed attempts to attack the capital.”
To ease political tensions and create an atmosphere of reconciliation, both PTI and the government have reportedly agreed to use the parliamentary forum for negotiations. However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah revealed on Friday that the government has yet to receive a formal proposal from PTI to initiate dialogue.
Contrarily, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser clarified that no talks were currently underway, dismissing reports suggesting the contrary.
