LAHORE / BAHAWALPUR: PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif has criticised the government, led by his own party, for engaging the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in a dialogue and questioned why former prime minister Imran Khan should be released.

`The government and institutional spokespersons must explain to the nation why we are being le ctured and pressured under the guise of negotiations. Why should Imran Khan be released? The public deserves to know whose interests he served during his over three years in power and the extent of damage he inflicted on Pakistan,` Latif, who is considered a member of `Nawaz camp` within the party, said during a press conference here on Friday.

He said the PTI`s negotiation committee was solely focused on securing Imran Khan`s release.

`If any concessions are made under pressure, the nation will resist. Retired Gen Faiz Hameed attempted to orchestrate a mutiny within the army, but his efforts were thwarted. Faiz Hameed`s arrest is not related to corruption in a housing society. The public deserves[to know] the truth he was involved in plotting, alongside those who were masterminding an internal rebellion in the institution. In any other country, such a failed rebellion would have resulted in immediate executions,` Latif remarked.

He further said: `We have grievances against institutions, but even when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was executed, the PPP never called for civil disobedience.

Mian Nawaz Sharif was labeled ahijacker, disqualified for life, and was even poisoned in prison, yet he never advocated for civil disobedience. This call for civil disobedience is an even graver crime than the events of May 9 or Nov 26.

In a veiled reference to the United States, Latif warned: `The reality is that external forces want to derail CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) and gain access to our nuclear programme. If living on foreign aid is our only option, we will rather embrace an honorable death. Should anyone attempt to dictate terms or treat us like subordinates, we will respond as a united and sovereign nation.

Latif also expressed frustration on X in a comment directed at Richard Grenell, a designated envoy for special missions in the Trump team, questioning why the incoming Trump administration appears to support Imran Khan despite his `controversial tenure`.

`Dear @RichardGrenell, Have you ever felt the crushing weight of being falsely accused, torn from your loved ones, and imprisoned for months? I have.

Under Imran Khan`s fascist regime, I was unjustly incarcerated an innocent man, while my family endured immense suffering. My ailing mother`s health deteriorated because of it. The pain was unbearable, but my innocence was ignored by a government that used power to silence its opponents. And through all this suffering, there was not a single word from you no tweet, no message of support,` Latif lamented.

KHAQAN ABBASI: Former prime minister Shahid Khagan Abbasi does not see any outcome of the dialogue between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the government.

Talking to the media on Friday, Khagan Abbasi observed that Imran Khan was demanding his release from jail as, according to him, he did not com-mit any offence but the government held his party responsible for the violation of law and commitment of crime.

He argued that in the presence of a political deadlock in the country, the election was inevitable. In the parliamentary form of government, Mr Abbasi said, election could be held any time but it could not be the panacea for all the ills.

He said in the current circumstances and political chaos, the economy could not make progress.

The former prime minister said that in the prevailing political situation and political deadlock, PML supremo Nawaz Sharif should play his pivotal role. `If Nawaz Sharif remains silent in such a crisis, this will be unjust for the country.

Mr Abbasi added that in our country, the establishment and judiciary were a reality and (in the current situation) each moment was a burden on the present government.

He said Imran Khan was removed from the power in the same manner as he had come into power and the present government would also be rolled back in the same manner as it was installed. He asked the coalition`s partner political parties to prove their performance instead of making TikTok videos as each of the ruling partners seemed to be ruling the country.

Talking about Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, he said if he wanted to become a prime minister, he would be elected with a coalition government as politics of inheritance in the name of inheritance was an utter failure. He said if inheritance politics opened the doors of success only if it was based on capability, service and experience.

The former prime minister said if Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and his party had identical views and both groups could proceed together because Nisar was presently in search of a platform, which might back his views.