By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has claimed that her brother is under pressure to recognize the current government and issue a public apology over the events of 9 May 2023.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Aleema said that those involved in behind-the-scenes talks are urging Khan to show flexibility if he wants to return to the negotiating table. “They say dialogue requires give and take,” she noted, questioning whether the expectation was that Imran Khan should abandon everything for the sake of talks.
PTI’s founder sister revealed that Khan is being told to accept the legitimacy of the current government and apologize for the May 9 protests, which erupted after his arrest last year and led to widespread unrest, including attacks on military installations. “Is this what negotiation means—surrender?” she asked. Aleema also mentioned growing speculation that her brother may be released from prison on 5 June, following recent calls for nationwide protest from the PTI.
Aleema Khan further pointed to a critical court date on Thursday regarding the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which Khan faces allegations of corruption. “If the case isn’t heard tomorrow in Islamabad High Court, it could be pushed as far as September,” she warned, calling it a possible tactic to delay justice.
Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023, facing a raft of legal challenges and an effective exclusion from political life. His party has repeatedly alleged that the cases are politically motivated, while his critics point to the violence of May 9 as a red line that cannot be ignored.
