Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai has warned that the ongoing negotiations between the PTI and the ruling government may end if there is no progress on the judicial commission of here on January 31.
Yousafzai expressed concerns following the repeated postponement of the ₹190 million benchmark package, which had been postponed for the third time, leading to growing discontent in the PTI ranks.
Speaking to the media, he criticized the delays in the verdict, which he said harmed the credibility of Pakistan’s justice system.
Shaukat Yousafzai accused the government of using the legal process to buy time, saying the ruling party was apparently seeking an “NRO” (National Reconciliation Order) – an amnesty deal to protect certain political figures from accusations of corruption.
Yousafzai reiterated the PTI’s position, emphasizing that the party would neither seek nor accept such a deal.
The PTI leader further suggested that the continued delays in the case were a clear attempt to undermine the justice system and prevent accountability. “It appears the government is delaying the trial for its own political gain,” he said.
“This is a travesty of the judicial process, and the judiciary must take strong action to restore confidence in the system. »
Yousafzai also targeted the ruling coalition, particularly Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He accused them of prioritizing corporate interests over governance, thereby exacerbating the economic crisis.
According to Yousafzai, the ruling government’s policies have caused significant financial difficulties to the country, leading to increased suffering among the people.
He cited the rising national debt, including the controversial Rs 27 trillion debt accumulated over the past two years.
Yousafzai demanded an investigation into power purchase agreements (PPAs) and called for an investigation into the business interests of key politicians who he said had used their political power to strike “unfair” deals in the sector energy.
“The country’s economy is on the verge of collapse because of these people,” Yousafzai said. “We must expose those who have used politics as a cover for their business dealings, particularly in the electricity sector. »
He also criticized some ministers for undermining the ongoing dialogue, suggesting their statements were being manipulated to derail the negotiation process. Yousafzai pointed the finger at former PTI leader and current government ally Faisal Vawda, accusing him of making baseless predictions about the PTI’s political future.
Yousafzai’s remarks come amid growing frustration within the PTI over the lack of tangible progress in negotiations with the government. The talks, which were initially seen as a potential path to political reconciliation, have struggled to move forward, with key issues such as electoral reforms and the military’s role in politics remaining unresolved.
In the face of growing uncertainty, Yousafzai made it clear that PTI’s participation in the negotiations would depend on the judicial committee’s progress on the £190 million case. He said if there was no positive development by the end of January, the PTI would reassess its position and decide whether to continue negotiations or not.
“We hope that there will be progress, especially with the judicial commission, but if that does not happen, then the talks will end,” Yousafzai said. “Imran Khan will take the final decision on whether to continue negotiations after January 31.”
Yousafzai’s comments highlighted the growing rift between the ruling government and the PTI, with both sides appearing unable to overcome their differences. While the PTI has repeatedly called for judicial accountability and reforms, the government has defended its handling of the economy and national affairs.
Despite political tensions, Yousafzai expressed one last hope: the role of Pakistan’s justice system. He stressed that the PTI’s only remaining hope for a resolution lay in the higher courts. “If the justice system fails, then only Allah can help this country,” he said, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence and fairness in the face of political turbulence.
Yousafzai concluded by urging the judiciary to take a strong stance on the ongoing issues, saying it was its responsibility to restore public confidence in the country’s legal system.
