PTI Demands: Sohail Afridi releases seven-point draft for talks with federal government

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has made public the seven demands put forward by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during negotiations with the federal government, insisting that none of the proposals is unconstitutional or illegal.

In a post on X, Afridi accused the state of treating PTI as a “second-class citizen” and said the demands were intended to promote political stability, uphold the Constitution and rule of law, continue the democratic process and maintain peace and order.

Under the first proposal, the prime minister and opposition leaders in both houses of parliament would hold regular meetings to discuss political, national, constitutional, legal and democratic issues. The draft calls for meaningful progress towards resolving outstanding matters within two months.

The second demand seeks a joint political negotiating committee comprising representatives of the government coalition, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and opposition parties. The committee would continue consultations on political and national issues and differences between the sides, with workable recommendations to be presented within one month.

The third proposal concerns PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. It calls for both prisoners to receive their legal, humanitarian and medical rights under prison rules and applicable law, including consideration of their personal or nominated doctors where legally permitted.

The fourth demand seeks meetings between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and their family members, nominated lawyers and authorised associates in accordance with prison regulations. The draft says such meetings should not be used for activities prohibited by law.

The fifth proposal calls for legal petitions involving Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and other prisoners, particularly women, elderly and sick inmates, to be taken up or concluded without unnecessary delay. It also calls for the early humanitarian release of women political prisoners.

The sixth demand focuses on terrorism and law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It calls for continuous consultation between the federal and provincial governments and a meeting within 72 hours to develop a clear and workable counterterrorism strategy.

The seventh point links the demands to PTI’s planned long march. Afridi said the party would call off the protest if the federal government provided written assurances on implementing the demands and measures agreed during negotiations. He said PTI would retain its right to hold peaceful and lawful protests if those commitments were not honoured.

The demands were made public after marathon talks between the government and opposition ended without resolving the dispute over PTI’s planned march. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of backtracking on commitments made during negotiations and rejected Afridi’s document as an attempt to derail an agreement.

The disagreement comes as PTI has begun the first phase of its long march from Lakki Marwat towards Swabi, with the wider protest linked to demands concerning Imran Khan, political rights and the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.