ISLAMABAD, JAN 29: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter President Junaid Akbar said on Tuesday that the opposition party’s desire to hold dialogue with the government was misconstrued as its weakness and warned of agitation against the incumbent rulers.
His remarks came hours after the former ruling party skipped the fourth round of talks, scheduled for today, with the coalition government. The ruling alliance said that the ongoing negotiation process with the PTI has “practically” ended since the opposition party skipped the crucial meeting.
The PTI and the PML-N-led coalition government started the dialogue process in December to lower the political temperature in the country.
After weeks of negotiation, the talks hit a snag as the Khan-founded party called off the dialogue with the government over not forming judicial commissions to probe the May 9, 2023, violent protests and a crackdown on party protesters in Islamabad on November 26 last year.
Speaking on Geo News‘ programme “Capital Talk” today, Akbar, who was recently elected the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) unopposed, said although the party tried to make the negotiation process with the government successful, he did not see it happening.
He also hinted that the PTI may raise the political temperature in the country once again by shifting to “agitation mode”.
When asked if his new position in the party suggests that there would be no negotiations with the government and the matters would be solved on the streets, Akbar replied: “Yes, definitely”.
The PAC chairman revealed that the “homoeopathic leadership” of the Imran Khan-founded party would be sidelined after reorganisation, slated to be held in May this year.
Further hinting at a large-scale reshuffle in the party’s hierarchy, the PTI leader said that “hardliners” would be appointed to key positions.
He further said that the party would bring changes to KP’s provincial cabinet, adding that two new members would be inducted.
Shedding light on the party’s future plans, the PTI leader said that they had multiple options, including staging protests at the district level on February 8 against alleged rigging during last year’s general elections and a demonstration at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.
The PTI leader further said that they would not engage with anyone when they take to the streets this time.
Responding to a question related to alleged political victimisation and “conspiracies” being hatched by the federal government, Akbar said attempts were being made to create a forward block in the former ruling party.
“We also know who is in contact with whom.”
The PTI leader said: “They [the government] failed to change the loyalties of PTI’s supporters.” He further said that those who quit the party had joined the PTI on the directives of “someone else”.
To another query, he claimed that the PTI founder would be released during the current year.
The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August last year after he was sentenced in Toshakhana case-I — one of the dozens of cases registered against the former premier since his ouster from power in April 2022.
 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter President Junaid Akbar said on Tuesday){kind=link}