Fawad Chaudhry steps in to ease tensions between govt, PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) former leader Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said that in the prevailing situation, the most important step should be to bring down the political temperature — something that cannot happen until both the government and the PTI take reciprocal steps towards de-escalation.

In a post on social media platform X, Chaudhry said the government must take a step forward, while PTI should take a step back to create space for dialogue.

“Pakistan has achieved several international successes recently, but due to the heightened political tensions, the country has not been able to capitalise on them,” he wrote.

He stressed that economic growth and political stability would remain elusive unless the political environment cools down.

Chaudhry said efforts were under way to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue.

He said that during a meeting with senior PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Ejaz Chaudhry and others, he shared his perspective — and was pleased that they agreed that the political temperature must be lowered.

The former federal minister also expressed willingness to engage with the government, saying meetings with senior PML-N ministers had already taken place and a meeting with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was also expected soon. “We want to convey that Pakistan urgently needs an improved political environment,” he said.

Fawad Chaudhry added that steps must be taken to improve this environment, beginning with relief for political prisoners. “Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s bail is being delayed without reason. Ejaz Chaudhry, Yasmeen Rashid, Umar Cheema, Mahmoodur Rasheed, political workers and women — all deserve bail,” he said.

He concluded by saying that once these issues are addressed, the overall political climate would improve. “Securing the release of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi is our primary goal,” he added. “For now, only Imran Ismail, Mahmood Molvi, and I are out, but you will soon see more senior PTI leaders join us in upcoming meetings — helping improve the environment further.”

It is worth mentioning that a day earlier, former PTI leaders met PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Lahore.

Qureshi was taken to the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) for a medical checkup, where Fawad Chaudhry, Mahmood Molvi, and Imran Ismail called on him. Sources said the two sides discussed the prevailing political situation during the meeting.