ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, firmly stated on Tuesday that Pakistan would not bow to any pressure from the incoming U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or to release its founder, Imran Khan.
When asked about remarks by Trump loyalist Richard Grenell, who had tweeted in support of Imran Khan’s release, Sanaullah said, “We will not operate under pressure from Donald Trump. Any such intervention would be considered an infringement on our sovereignty.”
Sanaullah, who is also part of the government’s negotiation committee, emphasized that dialogue between the government and opposition must take place independently, without foreign interference. “Negotiations should be conducted bilaterally between the treasury and opposition parties,” he said.
He acknowledged the fluctuating nature of U.S.-Pakistan relations but underscored that Pakistan would not compromise its national interests under any circumstances.
Addressing another query, the senior PML-N leader indicated that the government would not hinder the PTI from pursuing “time-bound and conclusive” talks. However, he cautioned that a swift resolution would be unlikely if both parties failed to find common ground. He stressed that the government was not in a rush to schedule immediate discussions.
Sanaullah’s remarks followed a statement by PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, who recently met Imran Khan at Adiala Jail and called on the government to provide a clear timeline for progress on PTI’s demands.
