Islamabad (Web Desk): Former leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through a platform they have named the National Dialogue Committee (NDC), calling for the parole release of senior PTI leaders currently held at Kot Lakhpat Jail.
The NDC members argue that without the participation of these leaders, the proposed talks would lack direction, credibility, and the leadership needed to produce meaningful outcomes.
In a letter dated December 23 and addressed to the prime minister, the committee expressed support for the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the opposition, particularly PTI.
It described the initiative as a rare and timely chance to confront the country’s mounting political, economic, and institutional difficulties, stressing that sincere negotiations could help pull Pakistan back from prolonged instability.
The correspondence deliberately avoids any reference to PTI founder Imran Khan, instead highlighting that senior party leaders who are not confined to Adiala Jail are in a better position to launch and sustain the negotiating process.
According to the committee, these leaders possess the experience and authority required to keep talks focused and productive.
At the heart of the appeal is a demand for the release on parole of PTI leaders detained at Kot Lakhpat Jail, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mahmoodur Rashid, and Ijaz Chaudhry.
The committee maintains that their presence outside prison is crucial for steering negotiations and ensuring that discussions progress in a serious and organized manner.
The letter also underlines that dialogue cannot succeed without visible confidence-building steps. It says that freeing the imprisoned leaders would send a positive signal, helping to ease political tensions and restore trust among rival political forces.
Alongside its immediate demands, the NDC has urged all political parties to put aside partisan considerations and work together on broad national agreements, including a Charter of Democracy and a Charter of Economy, aimed at securing lasting political stability and economic revival.
The letter bears the signatures of former PTI leaders including Mahmood Molvi, Imran Ismail, and Fawad Chaudhry, who have established the NDC to push forward and facilitate talks between the government and PTI.