ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday challenged the perception its ongoing negotiations with the government were aimed at securing concessions for its jailed leader, calling instead for constitutionalism and rule of law in the country.
The government and PTI formally began talks this month to address political differences and end deep polarization that has impacted Pakistan’s fragile economy. Khan, who has been imprisoned for more than a year, has called for a timeline to advance the talks, the release of PTI political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate violent protests on May 9 last year and Nov. 26 this year, which the government claims were orchestrated by PTI supporters.
“We completely reject the perception that these negotiations are held because the [party’s] founding chairman Imran Khan is seeking concessions for himself,” Shibli Faraz, a senior PTI leader, said during a joint news conference with other top colleagues.
“He will not be part of any arrangement which builds a perception that he’s doing this for himself,” he continued. “He is in prison for the people of Pakistan and he is firm on his principled stance.”
Faraz reiterated that his party was facing political victimization, saying its leaders, including Khan, had been targeted through politically motivated cases.
He also emphasized PTI’s commitment to peaceful political activism.
“We are a peaceful party and peaceful protest has always been our way,” he said, adding: “We are not in favor of any violence or extremism, but we firmly stand against fascism. We disagree with undemocratic ways and condemn them. This country should run on the basis of the constitution.”
Faraz also criticized what he described as selective application of the constitution, calling for consistency and adherence to democratic principles.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s security forces thwarted an attempted cross-border incursion by militants allegedly facilitated by Afghan Taliban authorities, security sources said on Saturday after Afghanistan’s defense ministry claimed its forces targeted several locations in Pakistan in response to airstrikes earlier this week.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and has urged Afghan officials not to allow armed factions to use their soil to target neighboring states. Afghan authorities deny these allegations, saying Pakistan’s security challenges are its internal matter.
On Thursday, Afghan authorities reported airstrikes by Pakistan’s military in an eastern border town that they said had killed 46 people. The strikes came days after the TTP claimed responsibility for killing 16 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan border.
“On the night of December 27-28, 20 to 25 khawarij [TTP militants], using Afghan Taliban border posts, attempted to infiltrate Pakistan at two locations in Kurram and North Waziristan,” Pakistani security sources said. “Pakistani forces acted promptly, thwarting the incursion.”
They reported yet another incursion in the morning, saying it was also repelled.
“In retaliation, khawarij and Afghan Taliban jointly opened unprovoked heavy fire on Pakistani posts,” they added.
Pakistan’s forces responded decisively, reportedly inflicting significant losses on the attackers.
“Initial reports indicate that over 15 khawarij and Afghan Taliban personnel were killed, with many others injured,” the sources said. “Effective counter-fire forced the Afghan Taliban to abandon six posts.”
No fatalities were reported on the Pakistani side, though three soldiers sustained injuries. Security sources also noted Afghanistan’s unwillingness to control TTP elements operating freely on its soil, saying it strained bilateral relations.
“Instead of curbing these terrorist elements, the Afghan Taliban persistently assist them,” the sources maintain. “TTP militants operate with impunity in Afghanistan, using its territory for anti-Pakistan activities.”