Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai said on Wednesday that he would not take part in talks with the government without first consulting PTI founder Imran Khan. The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman made the remarks while addressing a public gathering in Zhob, Balochistan. The address was reported by The Express Tribune on Wednesday evening.
A consistent condition: Achakzai refuses talks Imran Khan
Achakzai has held the same position through the recent rounds of negotiations. During the government-opposition talks earlier this month, he insisted that no final decision could be taken before meeting the jailed PTI founder, and made his approval of the proposed five-point framework conditional on that meeting.
He also called for the release of Imran Khan’s sisters before any agreement could be finalised, and proposed that K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas meet the PTI founder to discuss the way forward. Before leaving for Quetta last week, he conveyed a clear message to the PTI leadership that the planned long march should not be postponed without a meeting with Imran Khan, suggesting that Afridi meet the founder in his absence.
Achakzai has argued that a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would serve little purpose if opposition representatives were unable to meet Imran Khan first. He has said the opposition could even refuse a meeting with the prime minister if that condition was not met, though he has asked opposition parties to remain open to negotiations if the government made contact.
Talks stalled over terrorism and Imran meeting
The government and opposition reached a five-point understanding covering Imran Khan’s legal facilities, early hearing of pending cases, and joint federal-provincial action against terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The PTI committee tried to persuade Achakzai, telling him the government had assured a meeting with Imran Khan by Tuesday.
The talks broke down on Saturday after the K-P government sought repeated changes to the counterterrorism clauses, with Afridi pushing back on the proposed role of the federal government and security forces in the province. If the negotiations had succeeded, the PTI would have withdrawn its call for the long march, which has now entered its fourth day and is heading towards Khyber.
FAQ
What did Achakzai say at the Zhob gathering?
He said he refused to engage in talks with the government without consulting PTI founder Imran Khan first, repeating the condition he has maintained throughout the recent negotiations.
Why does Achakzai insist on meeting Imran Khan first?
He argues that no final decision on talks, the long march, or any political agreement can carry weight without the PTI founder’s input, since Imran Khan remains the central figure in the opposition’s decision-making.
What is the current state of government-opposition talks?
The talks broke down on Saturday over disagreements on counterterrorism measures in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The government had reportedly agreed to a meeting with Imran Khan by Tuesday, but the K-P government’s objections to the operation clauses stalled the draft agreement.
Who is Mahmood Khan Achakzai?
He is the chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, heading the opposition alliance in negotiations with the government.
Related stories
- Achakzai says opposition will hold no talks without consulting Imran Khan
- PTI Says Reconciliation Impossible Without Imran Khan as Talks With Government Collapse
- PTI Dismisses Shehbaz Sharif’s Talks Offer as ‘Mere Offer’ Amid Long March Standoff
Originally reported by tribune.com.pk.
