ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was briefed on the content of a recent meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, according to a senior government source.
The source revealed that the prime minister was informed that the meeting was not pre-scheduled. During a law and order session with various political leaders, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur requested a separate meeting with the COAS alongside PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
The Army Chief, the briefing noted, agreed to the request but declined to discuss political matters, advising the PTI leaders to address such issues through government channels. The meeting primarily focused on security concerns, said the source.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had initially denied the meeting but later confirmed it after Imran Khan disclosed the interaction to the media. Imran stated that Gohar had presented the party’s matters and demands directly to the COAS. However, Gohar maintained that the discussion was limited to security topics without elaborating on his involvement in such matters.
Imran Khan hailed the interaction with the establishment as a constructive step toward resolving ongoing challenges. Nevertheless, members of the ruling coalition’s negotiation committee, including Rana Sanaullah and Irfan Siddiqui, dismissed the notion that political issues were entertained during the meeting.
Before Imran’s confirmation, The News had reported that Gohar and Gandapur met with key figures in an exclusive discussion, hinting at the potential for continued backchannel negotiations. Future meetings may involve a federal minister and other influential figures, though outcomes remain contingent on PTI’s evolving political strategy and approach.
