Lahore, February 1, 2025: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denied claims of a phone call from the United States regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, stating on Saturday that no such communication had taken place.
Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Naqvi urged the PTI to clarify its stance on negotiations and advised the party not to hold a rally on February 8.
The fourth round of talks between the government and PTI concluded on Tuesday, but members of the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party failed to attend.
Last month, PTI negotiators boycotted a scheduled January 28 meeting, citing the government’s failure to meet their demands. The party has been pressing for a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents and demanding the release of political prisoners.
According to PTI, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has failed to deliver on its commitments, demonstrating its lack of authority to implement decisions.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who chaired the previous talks, expressed optimism that negotiations would continue. “When talks are held, conditions should not be imposed. Instead, discussions should focus on reaching decisions,” he said.
Commenting on the PTI’s planned February 8 rally, Naqvi noted that the party had previously announced similar events, adding that misinformation on social media often distorts facts.
He also remarked that Pakistan maintains positive diplomatic relations with the United States, emphasizing that recent meetings with U.S. Congress members would soon yield visible results. “Whenever a Pakistani travels abroad legally, it is a source of pride for us,” Naqvi added.
Naqvi also announced significant reforms in passport processing to reduce long waiting times. In collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), the government is establishing passport counters in 14 cities.
“With these measures, citizens will no longer have to endure long queues for passports,” Naqvi assured, revealing that a dedicated Passport Authority would soon be formed to address related challenges.
Additionally, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is set to undergo substantial reforms, he said, highlighting the rising demand for passports in Pakistan. “We are working on setting up exemplary NADRA centers for the public,” he concluded.
