ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s party on Tuesday demanded the government provide it “unfettered” access to the jailed ex-premier, saying it was the only way to demonstrate “seriousness” to end an ongoing political impasse in the country.
Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly since he was jailed in August 2023 on corruption and other charges. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has regularly held protests to demand his release, with many of the demonstrations turning violent.
The two sides kicked off negotiations last month and have held two rounds of talks to end the political deadlock, but have failed to make a headway. The PTI and the government’s last round of talks on Jan. 2 ended inconclusively after Khan’s party demanded more time to meet and consult the ex-PM before submitting their demands in writing.
A government spokesperson last week said the government had facilitated Khan’s party by arranging its meetings with the ex-premier in jail, but the PTI remained “indecisive” about formalizing their demands despite written assurances made in joint declarations issued after talks between both sides.
“In the second and last session of our negotiations committee, we had clearly conveyed to the government that our unmonitored, unfettered meeting be arranged with [former] prime minister Imran Khan, in which there is no monitoring in that room,” PTI leader Omar Ayub said at a presser on Tuesday, adding their meetings with Khan were held in a small room, with cameras and other monitoring devices installed.
“In that environment, discussions can’t be held freely.”
Ayub said the government committee had promised to facilitate such a meeting, but they had been no development since.
“We have not received any information [about the meeting] so far from the government,” he said, adding the government’s arrangement of a meeting with Khan in an “unfettered environment, without restrictions,” would demonstrate its seriousness for talks.
Last week, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiation committee, said the talks could encounter “serious hurdles” due to the PTI’s failure to submit its demands in writing at the next meeting.
“If the PTI does not submit its demands in writing as promised, the negotiation process may face serious hurdles,” Siddiqui was quoted as saying by the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
“Even after 12 days, no significant progress has been made.”
The two sides held the first round of talks on Dec. 23. Khan’s party has previously stated two demands: the release of all political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate protests on May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024, which the government says involved Khan supporters, accusing them of attacking military installations and government buildings.
The talks between the two sides opened days after Khan threatened a civil disobedience movement, and amid growing concerns he may face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9, 2023 protests.
Ex-PM Khan’s party demands ‘unfettered’ access to him for talks with Pakistan government to succeed
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Ex-PM Khan’s party demands ‘unfettered’ access to him for talks with Pakistan government to succeed
- The government last week said it had facilitated meetings with Khan, but his party remained ‘indecisive’ about formalizing its demands
- The two sides have held two rounds of negotiations since last month to end a political deadlock, but have failed to make a headway
Pakistani stars Mahira, Fahad bring ‘Tom and Jerry’ slapstick to upcoming Eid flick
- “Aag Lagay Basti May” features Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan as on-screen couple who indulge in petty crimes
- Actor Mustafa, who also produces the film, describes the Eid flick as “entertaining, honest and modern”
KARACHI: Pakistani acting powerhouses Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa are set to mark their return on the silver screen this Eid Al-Fitr with “Aag Lagay Basti May,” with the actress describing their chemistry as somewhat similar to popular cartoon characters Tom and Jerry.
The film stars Khan and Mustafa in lead roles, with the latter essaying “Barkat,” an honest man who cringes at the very thought of crime and theft. Khan plays Almas, his partner, who has had enough of his honesty and wants to live a life of crime, and savor the spoils that come with it.
Written and directed by filmmaker Bilal Atif Khan, the film has been produced by ARY Films, Salman Films and also Mustafa. It stars veteran actor Javed Sheikh and popular comedian Tabish Hashmi in key roles.
The film revolves around Almas and Barkat as they turn to petty crimes to improve their standard of living. The couple partakes in crime, mostly at Almas’ prodding, and find themselves in hilarious situations. However, the plot thickens when crime bosses played by Sheikh and Hashmi get involved in the mix.
“Well, I think they are so cute,” Khan said about Almas and Barkat’s on-screen dynamic. “They are like Tom and Jerry, with me being Jerry and Fahad bechara [poor] being Tom.”
Mustafa and Khan, both superstars with several hit movies and drama serials to their credit, have worked before in the 2022 comedy film “Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad.”
This film, however, is very different. It features Khan in a different avatar of Almas, and takes place in a low-income neighborhood in Pakistan’s commercial hub Karachi.
Khan insists initially she thought she could not pull off the movie but later decided to drop another for it.
“My initial reaction was that there is no way I can do this,” she said, laughing. “But I do have to say that there was another film and then there was this, and I was like, if I had to do one of them, it has to be this.”
Khan said she approached Almas’ character by analyzing and tapping into her emotions.
“You first build the character with the look — getting the clothes right, the accent right, the way she talks,” she explained.
But beyond the physical transformation, she focused on the character’s motivations.
“Every time you see her, she has greed in her eyes,” the actress said. “You should see wanting more. It’s not enough to be in this basti [shack], it’s not enough to make this much money, it’s not enough to steal 500 or 1,000 rupees every day.
“Nothing is enough for her.”
Coming back to the on-screen duo, Khan said at times their relationship even resembled a criminal partnership of sorts.
“It’s like Bonnie and Clyde also,” she said, hinting at unexpected twists in the story.
Mustafa marks his debut as a producer with Aag Lagay Basti May. But what made him decide to produce the flick?
“For the love of the art, one has to give back to the industry,” he explained.
The Pakistani actor has high hopes from the movie and of it performing well on release.
“I think entertaining, honest and modern,” he said, describing the movie.
