Islamabad, April 10, 2025 – Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui has dismissed rumors of a meeting between a US delegation and incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, asserting that no such interaction occurred. Speaking to a private news channel on Thursday, Siddiqui emphasized that Khan himself has shown little interest in meeting even his own Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party members, let alone foreign dignitaries.
“Imran Khan has made it clear he doesn’t want to see anyone from PTI. If he’s unwilling to engage with his own party, what can the government possibly do?” Siddiqui questioned. He pointed out that, unlike historical figures who endured lengthy imprisonments for their convictions and rarely received visitors, Khan has been afforded regular access to meetings. “Yet PTI seems fixated on one thing: ‘How can we secure a meeting?’ They lack any coherent ideology or principle,” he added, taking a swipe at the opposition party’s apparent disarray.
Siddiqui explained that jail regulations dictate a straightforward process: a list of potential visitors is submitted to the prisoner, who then decides whom to meet. “This isn’t a monumental issue. If a meeting doesn’t happen today, it can happen tomorrow,” he said, downplaying PTI’s grievances. He further criticized the party’s internal chaos, noting that many PTI leaders act as if they alone represent the entire organization. “PTI has devolved into a fragmented, directionless group,” he remarked.
Turning to Khan’s refusal to engage in dialogue, Siddiqui referenced the military’s stance following the violent events of May 9, 2023. “The ISPR laid out two clear conditions: Khan must apologize for May 9 and sit down with political leaders.Imran Khan’s unwavering stance against compromise remains firm, as PTI Senator Azam Swati recently confirmed, dismissing any speculation of softening his position,” Siddiqui noted, highlighting the former premier’s resolute rejection of both options in his latest statements.
On a separate issue, Siddiqui addressed the ongoing controversy over canal construction, which has sparked protests from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He clarified that the initiative was greenlit after a July 8, 2024, meeting at the Presidency, with instructions given to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to proceed. “The Sindh Assembly didn’t oppose it until March 14, 2025. Why did PPP stay silent for so long?” he asked. He suggested that President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent parliamentary remarks against the project were a reaction to pressure from Sindh’s nationalist factions rather than a principled stand.
Siddiqui dismissed speculation about cracks in the PML-N-PPP coalition, calling the PPP a steadfast supporter of constitutional governance. “They’re not like PTI, prone to reckless moves,” he said. On Nawaz Sharif’s potential role in addressing unrest in Balochistan, Siddiqui praised the PML-N leader as a unifying figure whose experience could foster national reconciliation.
Looking ahead, Siddiqui remained noncommittal about Sharif’s plans for future elections, noting that the former prime minister had already ruled out pursuing the premiership in 2024. On the rising militancy in parts of the country, he took a firm stance: “If individuals resort to violence and take up arms in the mountains, there’s no room for talks amid bloodshed.”
The senator’s remarks underscore the deepening political divides in Pakistan as the government navigates internal dissent, coalition tensions, and security challenges.
