Opposition alliance agrees to respond positively to govt’s dialogue offer

ISLAMABAD: The main opposition alliance has agreed to respond positively to the government’s offer for negotiations to break a prolonged political deadlock, sources said on Thursday, in a rare bid to ease tensions linked to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s health.

The Tehreek‑i‑Tahaffuz‑e‑Aain Pakistan (TTAP) alliance held a consultative meeting in Islamabad late on Wednesday, attended by senior opposition figures including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Asad Qaiser and PTI leader Salman Akram Raja, before agreeing to engage in dialogue with the government.

Sources said the alliance reviewed recent statements by the government, including those by Prime Minister’s adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah, and decided to give a “positive response” to the invitation for talks.

The opposition is expected to formally communicate its position to the government and the public during the holy month of Ramadan, the sources said.

Tensions between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) have escalated over Khan’s medical treatment while in custody.

The former prime minister, incarcerated in Adiala jail since August 2023, has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious condition that has reportedly left him with substantial vision loss, and has become a focal point of political dispute.

The PTI and allied leaders have repeatedly called for Khan to be transferred to a hospital of his choice and for his personal physicians to be allowed access, accusing authorities of a lack of transparency in his care — claims the government has rejected.

Junaid Akbar, president of the PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, said the opposition believed in political engagement and dialogue but urged the government to create a conducive environment for meaningful talks.

Political stalemate over Khan’s treatment and broader disagreements have strained relations between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz government and opposition parties for months, with both sides accusing each other of undermining democratic processes.