US-based Pak doctors here again amid renewed backchannel efforts for Imran

ISLAMABAD: Some US-based Pakistani doctors and businessmen, previously involved in quiet diplomacy regarding Imran Khan, have returned to Pakistan amid fresh efforts to secure relief for the jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder.

The group, which reportedly met with a senior official and Imran Khan during a previous visit to Islamabad a couple of months back, arrived this week and are presently in Lahore.

However, sources suggest the delegation has not yet managed to secure a meeting with Khan during this visit, nor is it confirmed if any interaction has taken place with any key officials. Next week is seen as important for their interactions.

These visits are understood to be part of ongoing unofficial channels through which PTI sympathisers and diaspora figures are attempting to influence developments with regard to Imran Khan’s legal and political future.

Despite some informal contacts in recent months, no significant breakthrough has been reported. According to sources familiar with the matter, progress in such efforts hinges not only on political negotiations but also on the conduct of Imran Khan and PTI’s social media wing and the messaging from the party’s foreign chapters, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. The military establishment has repeatedly stated it would not engage directly with political parties, instead urging political forces to resolve their issues amongst themselves. Still, some PTI leaders continue to pursue behind-the-scenes contact with key officials, despite public denials of such engagements.

Sources indicate that Imran Khan and PTI’s persistent criticism of the military leadership through its official social media accounts and affiliated international chapters has been a major stumbling block in any potential reconciliation. Campaigns targeting the military, dissemination of alleged misinformation, and international lobbying efforts -- including attempts to influence Washington and London -- have reportedly strained relations further. Some within PTI’s second-tier leadership privately acknowledge that these aggressive tactics have harmed the party’s prospects, especially efforts aimed at seeking leniency or relief for Khan. There is growing internal recognition that the party must tone down its confrontational posture, particularly on digital platforms, to enable meaningful dialogue and reduce institutional friction.

Observers believe that any improvement in PTI’s political fortunes -- and in particular, Imran Khan’s “sufferings” -- will depend on the party’s ability to adopt a positive approach, avoid economic disruption, and halt attacks on state institutions.

With the delegation of overseas Pakistanis again trying to engage authorities here, political analysts are watching closely to see whether these efforts signal a new phase of reconciliation or yet another missed opportunity for the PTI.