The PTI founder and chairman, humbled by the state’s power and the initiating military court trials, finally agreed to talk with the government. His climb-down from his past inflexible stand that he would never talk to the ‘looters and plunderers’ is the most pragmatic approach in the given circumstances. In fact, the PTI chief presumptuously thought that the PTI protest on November 27, 2024 would take the capital city by storm and the government would collapse like a house of cards or bow to his demands. He was mistaken. But the government seems in no hurry to rush into dialogue and will continue to prolong the matter as long as it can. And given Imran Khan’s penchant for vacillating on his stand, it would be impossible for the PTI team and government team to reach any agreement. It would be better for the government to release the PTI leaders and workers, but there is no guarantee that Imran Khan, after being released, would sit silent till the next elections. In this game of thrones, the PTI workers and the people will continue to suffer from the fallout of political uncertainty.
Gulsher Panhwer
Johi