Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza claimed on Wednesday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was allegedly offered to leave the country for three years without the government's consultation.
Speaking on SAMAA’s program Nadeem Malik Live, Sahibzada Hamid Raza revealed that the offer to send the PTI chief abroad came from sources outside the government shortly after the general elections.
He stated that neither the government nor its representatives were consulted regarding this proposition.
“The government had no role in this offer,” Sahibzada asserted, adding that despite efforts to negotiate, key locations like Bani Gala or Zaman Park were never part of the discussion.
He described the situation as perplexing and alleged that the lack of clarity hindered meaningful progress in dialogues between the parties.
Talks on judicial commission
Sahibzada Hamid Raza further elaborated on the series of meetings held to address the political deadlock.
During the second meeting, SIC inquired about the government's demands, only to be told there were none. He described the government's reluctance to outline its position as “childish” and suggested that it reflected a lack of seriousness.
He stressed the importance of forming a judicial commission to address PTI's grievances. “If a judicial commission isn’t established in the third meeting, the fourth meeting might not happen,” he warned, hinting at the fragility of the ongoing negotiations.
Govt denies involvement
Barrister Aqeel Malik, Advisor to the Government on Law and Justice, categorically denied any involvement in offering a deal to the PTI chief or any of its leaders. Speaking during the same program, he clarified that no proposal related to Bani Gala, Zaman Park, or any other location was ever made by the government.
“PTI might have wished for certain concessions, but no offers were made from our side,” Malik stated. He also accused PTI of inconsistency, referring to the party’s history of U-turns in negotiations.
He further claimed that the government had suggested a compromise involving Sangjani, which was reportedly rejected by PTI.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza also hinted at possible involvement from sources outside the government. He speculated that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's support and other actions might have stemmed from external influences rather than directives from the Prime Minister. However, he refrained from providing further details.
