‘Imran’s political future uncertain; PTI must engage politically’

MULTAN
In a recent interview, Federal Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, discussed a range of political issues surrounding the current political landscape in Pakistan, particularly focusing on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its leader, Imran Khan.
Sanaullah’s comments offered a mix of political insights, allegations, and speculation about the future of Pakistan’s political environment.
Rana Sanaullah, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), emphasized that the political situation in the country could only be resolved through political dialogue.
According to Sanaullah, while the establishment is currently led by a figure who is neither “an eye-winner” nor one to seek “winks,” he insisted that political forces need to engage directly with each other. He particularly stressed that PTI must approach political problems through dialogue, acknowledging that Imran Khan himself was largely responsible for his own political troubles.
Sanaullah made a pointed reference to the ongoing legal challenges faced by Imran Khan, specifically his involvement in the high-profile £190 million case.
He expressed confidence that Khan would eventually be punished in this case, though he refrained from providing further details at this time. “Imran Khan is his own enemy,” Sanaullah remarked, suggesting that the PTI leader’s actions had brought him to a difficult political juncture.
Further addressing the broader political landscape, Sanaullah revealed that leaders like Mehmood Achakzai and Maulana Fazlur Rehman are in contact with PTI members, indicating that there might be room for political reconciliation, even with political adversaries. He suggested that such discussions were essential, as political solutions could only be found through engagement and understanding among the political forces.
In a response to a question about the PML-N’s stance on historical political matters, Sanaullah criticized PTI for its past actions during the 26th Constitutional Amendment, suggesting that PTI, and particularly Imran Khan, were well aware of the political maneuvers that occurred at that time.
He alluded to the idea that PTI members, who once facilitated certain political moves, should now recognize their role in shaping the current political reality and be more accountable to the political process.
Finally, when asked about the political future of PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur, Sanaullah expressed skepticism. He questioned whether Gandapur could recover politically, particularly in light of his recent actions, which seemed driven more by party loyalty than by genuine political conviction.
“Gandapur may recover on his own, but it plays both ways,” said Sanaullah, referring to his apparent attempt to please both party leadership and the establishment. He added that some of Gandapur’s recent actions, such as trying to influence political outcomes at D-Chowk, reflected a lack of consistency in his approach.