Achakzai asks PTI to respond positively if govt formally approaches it for talks

ISLAMABAD: The opposition leader in National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Tuesday advised the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to respond positively if the government formally approaches it for talks, but made it clear that any dialogue must be preceded by access to Imran Khan.

The message came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif renewed his offer to the opposition to end its protests and return to the negotiating table in an attempt to break the political deadlock and halt the PTI long march making its way to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to sources within PTI, Achakzai conveyed his position to the party leadership through Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP), a grand alliance of the opposition parties including the embattled PTI.

Achakzai, who was tasked by jailed PTI founding chairman Imran Khan with leading the march on Islamabad several months ago, urged the party to respond positively to any formal government initiative for talks.

However, he stressed that the government would first have to demonstrate its seriousness by taking concrete steps, the sources said.

The first requirement, according to the sources, would be arranging a meeting between Imran Khan and PTI leaders, Achakzai himself, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

Achakzai also cited the release of Khan’s sisters immediately as another measure that could help build confidence and create an environment for meaningful negotiations.

The opposition leader’s position indicates that a government invitation alone may not be sufficient to bring PTI back to the negotiating table.

According to the sources, Achakzai told allies that a meeting with the prime minister would be “meaningless” if opposition leaders were unable to meet Khan beforehand.

He also indicated that he could decline a meeting with Prime Minister Sharif if access to the former prime minister was not granted, the sources said.

The development comes as the prime minister seeks to revive political dialogue following repeated confrontations between the ruling coalition and PTI.

For the opposition, the question of access to Khan remains central to any engagement with the government.

His continued imprisonment and the cases against him have remained among the principal points of contention between PTI and the authorities.

Achakzai’s latest message therefore leaves the door open for dialogue, while making clear that PTI allies expect substantive steps from the government before any high level political engagement takes place.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026