- Negotiations will begin when Arif Alvi visits, says Swati
- Swati denies deal with establishment, says Khan seeks rule of law.
- PTI leader says dialogue isn’t for Khan’s release but democracy.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Azam Swati on Saturday dismissed speculation about a political deal, involving party founder Imran Khan and the establishment, The News reported.
He said those making such claims had “lost their minds”. However, he maintained that talks would be held once former president Dr Arif Alvi visits.
Speaking to the media outside a court in Rawalpindi, Swati said: “I have got permission from Khan Sahib [PTI founder] for talks (but) not for his release, Imran Khan will speak for the rule of democracy and the Constitution.”
Responding to criticism from within the party, Swati questioned whether it was a sin to hold talks and insisted that the aim of the dialogue was not a personal bargain but a democratic cause.
“I am waiting for former president Arif Alvi for regular talks who was supposed to come last week, now he is coming next week, nothing can be said definitively yet, the talks should not be for the release of the PTI founder who has made his name in history,” he noted.
Swati had recently claimed that Khan had given him the task of negotiations with the establishment. Later, in an interview with a private TV channel, he announced holding a meeting with a special personality last Wednesday.
Swati had claimed that after this meeting, he contacted ‘Dr Tanveer’ (who is believed to be Pakistani-American businessman Tanveer Ahmed), who is considered close to General Asim Munir, but to no avail.
However, PTI leader Salman Akram Raja had said that he was not aware of the deal with the establishment.
