RAWALPINDI: The release of two sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Thursday marks the first tangible outcome of recently initiated behind-the-scenes contacts between the opposition party and government authorities, amid signs of a possible reduction in political tensions.
According to well-informed sources, the development followed an understanding under which Khan’s sisters agreed to avoid controversial public statements or political involvement that could further intensify the ongoing confrontation with the establishment. They reportedly assured intermediaries that they would refrain from criticising the military’s senior leadership and making statements against the establishment.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the understanding specifically involved avoiding criticism of the military and its leadership. The assurances were reportedly given to relevant intermediaries as part of broader efforts to ease tensions between PTI and the authorities.
When asked whether the sisters would honour their commitment to remain non-political and avoid creating further complications, one source responded in the affirmative, saying they had already provided such assurances. Another source also confirmed that the understanding required them to avoid making statements that could aggravate the situation.
The release of Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail on Thursday reportedly followed these assurances. However, another sister of the PTI founder, Aleema Khan, remains in custody.
Sources said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and certain government intermediaries based in Lahore played key roles in facilitating the behind-the-scenes contacts and advancing the process concerning Imran Khan’s sisters.
The latest development comes a day after reports suggested that the PTI founder had adopted a relatively conciliatory tone during his most recent meeting in jail. Unlike his previous approach, Khan reportedly avoided an aggressive stance and appeared more willing to explore a possible way forward to ease the ongoing political deadlock.
According to sources, his concerns during the meeting were reportedly focused less on his personal circumstances and more on the situation involving his wife, Bushra Bibi, and his sisters.
The reported change in Khan’s approach, coupled with the family’s involvement in the negotiations and assurances from his sisters, has raised expectations of further progress in the informal engagement between PTI and the authorities.
Sources described the involvement of family members as an important development, marking the first time Imran Khan’s relatives have reportedly become directly involved in contacts aimed at reducing political tensions.
The role played by Barrister Gohar and Mohsin Naqvi is also being viewed as significant in facilitating communication between the two sides. Their involvement, alongside assurances from the sisters and Khan’s relatively softer stance, appears to have created some room for further engagement.
However, sources believe that maintaining the understanding will be crucial to sustaining the progress. The immediate challenge will be to ensure that the commitments are honoured and that public statements or confrontational political rhetoric do not undermine the emerging process.
Although neither PTI nor the government has publicly announced any formal agreement, Thursday’s release of Imran Khan’s two sisters is being seen as the first clear indication that the behind-the-scenes contacts may be producing practical results.
