PTI keeps doors open for talks as ‘deal’ rumours swirl

• Insiders say govt approached party senator with proposal to hold meeting in Parliament House
• PTI parliamentary party to meet today to prepare strategy

ISLAMABAD: As rumours swirl of a possible deal between the main opposition party and the powers that be, senior PTI leaders say that while they have never closed the door on talks, there has been no fresh development so far.

However, internal discussions within the PTI’s parliamentary party WhatsApp group suggest the party has received a message from the government, indicating that a meeting could be held in Parliament House, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself could participate and hear their grievances.

In anticipation of the huddle, the PTI has called a meeting of its parliamentary party today (Monday), where recent developments and the possibility of headway in talks will be discussed.

The reports come even as speculation regarding some sort of backchannel patch-up between the party and the powers that be has reached fever pitch. Observers has pointed to the amount of media coverage being afforded to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, and the sudden increase in activity among party workers on the ground.

A senior PTI leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that two days ago, one of the party’s senators informed colleagues that she had received a call from MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, inviting them for talks with the prime minister.

Mashal Yousafzai informed the parliamentary party that she had spoken to Mr Chaudhry, who told her he was sitting with the prime minister and Rana Sanaullah, and offered to hold negotiations with the party.

According to Ms Yousafzai, the minister had said the venue for the meeting would be the Constitution Room of Parliament House, where the prime minister would also be in attendance.

This lines up with an earlier claim by Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas, a staunch PTI ally, who had indicated that the party wanted to hold discussions with the government at a ‘neutral venue’, such as Parliament House, rather than the PM Office.

“A senior leader asked why Tariq Fazal had contacted Mashal Yousafzai when he had the contact numbers of Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Amir Dogar, Gohar Khan and other PTI leaders. However, Ms Yousafzai insisted that she had received the call and that the offer was serious,” the party insider said, recounting the discussion.

“We have decided to hold a parliamentary party meeting on Monday (today), where the entire situation will be discussed. Since Imran Khan has authorised Mr Achakzai to hold talks, he will also be consulted,” he explained.

However, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja told Dawn that all such reports were purely speculative.

“We are standing firm. If the government wants to hold talks, it will become clear soon. We are ready to talk with all segments of society, including political parties and other stakeholders. If the ‘system’ wants to talk, it should take the first step,” he said.

Mr Raja said no decision could be made without the will and approval of founding chairman Imran Khan. However, he said PTI’s doors remained open for talks.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram told Dawn that the party was technically not engaged in any talks with the government.

Dawn also reached out to Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry for comment, but did not receive a response until the filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2026