Sohail Afridi to remain CM as long as PTI founder Imran Khan wants: Junaid Akbar

He said the opposition could hold as many press conferences as it wanted, but claimed that the public was not interested in seeing them., the government’s deployment of a large number of containers and police personnel indicated that it was concerned about PTI’s preparations.

“Preparation” had no special meaning for PTI, Akbar said, adding that party workers could mobilise within 24 hours. He said he was unaware of any back-channel negotiations but acknowledged that political figures were always in contact with one another.

The PTI leader said the party had used every available forum and maintained that dialogue should be pursued to find a way forward. “Our first priority is the country; politics comes later,” he said.

Commenting on former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Akbar said his relations with Gandapur were not good and therefore he did not consider it appropriate to comment on Gandapur’s statement.

Akbar also dismissed the significance of what he described as “X, Y, Z” and said that while individuals might have different aspirations, the final decision rested with Imran Khan and would be accepted by everyone in the party. Reiterating his position on the provincial government, Akbar said Sohail Afridi would remain chief minister unless Imran Khan directed otherwise.

He added that PTI workers and the public were connected with Afridi. Akbar further said that behind-the-scenes contacts were a normal part of politics. He confirmed that PTI had formed a four-member negotiation committee and said the party believed in negotiations.

He also clarified that PTI did not intend to “conquer Islamabad.”