A group of former leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, has ramped up efforts to end the “political isolation” of their ex-party, drawing backlash from the incumbent leadership.
Last week, Fawad and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail were among erstwhile PTI leaders who visited incarcerated PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi at a Lahore hospital to seek his backing for their latest attempt. According to Qureshi’s lawyer, he did not endorse their campaign.
In various press engagements—and a video statement posted on his official X account—Fawad claimed that “several” PTI lawmakers agreed with him in seeking an end to the party’s “political isolation” through open dialogue with all political forces. He said his group would meet lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), the Pakistan Peoples Party and others in the coming week to gauge their support for his bid to lower the political temperatures.
While admitting he did not have any mandate from the PTI, he rubbished criticism alleging his group was seeking to “sideline” PTI founder Imran Khan. Rather, he said, he wished to push the government to grant relief to detained PTI leaders so they could convince Khan to pursue engagement rather than the prevailing contentious approach that has not netted any positive results.
If the government and the PTI cannot both take a step back and work toward political stability, he warned, opposition parties would inevitably resort to mass protests, hampering the country’s ability to protect its borders and achieve economic growth.
Fawad’s overtures, however, have drawn criticism from the PTI’s incumbent leadership. Party spokesperson Raoof Hasan, in a statement on X, accused the group of “deceit, deception and treachery,” alleging the latest attempt was merely a bid for political relevance. Similarly, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said the PTI had no interest in dialogue unless the “stolen mandate” was returned to its lawmakers. The party also seeks assurances the next election will be free and fair, he added.
Responding to the criticisms, Fawad has accused the incumbent PTI leadership of lacking legitimacy, alleging they fear being sidelined if Khan is released and want to ensure he remains incarcerated to bolster their own political fortunes.