Is Pakistan witnessing the first signs of a possible thaw between jailed former prime minister
Imran Khan and the country's powerful military establishment?
asserted
Pakistan → witness → Khan
The release of two of his sisters and his recent hospital visit for eye treatment have come amid speculation that a political settlement involving Army Chief Field Marshal
Asim Munir has taken place.
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settlement → come → place
His sisters, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were released on Thursday from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail after the Punjab government withdrew their extended detention orders.
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government → release → orders
The two had spent 53 days in custody after being detained ahead of a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest march.
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two → spend → march
Their sister Aleema Khan remains behind bars.
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sister → remain → bars
The release came a day after Imran Khan was taken from Adiala Jail to Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for an eye examination and treatment.
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Khan → come → examination
Doctors administered an injection for an issue affecting his right eye, besides treating his blood pressure.
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Doctors → administer → pressure
He was discharged in the early hours of Thursday and returned to prison.
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He → discharge → prison
The developments have coincided with renewed speculation about a possible deal involving Khan and the military establishment.
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developments → coincide → Khan
Pakistan interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, however, dismissed reports of any behind-the-scenes arrangement on Thursday, saying Khan and his family would receive whatever relief the courts granted them.
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courts → dismiss → them
PTI ready to make peace?
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PTI → make → peace
In August, one of Imran Khan's closest aides, PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari, had told Reuters that the former prime minister would not confront the military if released.
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minister → tell → military
"If Imran Khan was released tomorrow, hypothetically, he wouldn't do anything that would effectively damage the country," Bukhari had said, describing him as "magnanimous".
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Bukhari → release → him
He had also suggested that Munir could take the initiative to ease tensions, saying the army chief could extend a "healing hand" to the country.
"That doesn't mean you go loggerheads with the establishment, with the military leader," Bukhari said, adding that personal grievances could be set aside in the national interest.
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grievances → suggest → interest
The remarks marked a notable shift in the PTI's public rhetoric after years of confrontation with the military establishment following Khan's ouster in a no-confidence vote in 2022.
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remarks → mark → 2022
Bukhari, however, had mentioned that there were no talks between the PTI and the military.
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Bukhari → mention → PTI
He also acknowledged that it was unclear whether Khan himself shared the willingness to reconcile being expressed by party leaders outside prison.
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Khan → acknowledge → prison
The latest speculation has also been fuelled by opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai's claim in October that Khan could be facing pressure to accept an arrangement similar to those involving former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.
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Khan → fuel → ministers
Sharif left Pakistan in 2000 after being ousted and imprisoned following the military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf.
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Sharif → leave → Musharraf
Bhutto spent years abroad in self-imposed exile after her government was dismissed in 1996.
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government → spend → 1996
Achakzai alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party were part of a political arrangement that could pave the way for a similar outcome in Khan's case.
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that → allege → case
However, he did not establish that any such agreement had been reached.
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agreement → establish → ?
An exile arrangement could potentially offer a way out of the prolonged confrontation, but there is no confirmation that Khan has agreed to leave Pakistan or that negotiations with Munir are under way.
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negotiations → offer → way
Why a deal may not be straightforward
Imran Khan's relationship with the military establishment deteriorated after disagreements over key appointments and foreign policy.
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relationship → deteriorate → appointments
He has accused the military leadership, including Munir, of orchestrating his removal.
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He → accuse → removal
The military denies interfering in politics.
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military → deny → politics
Despite being in prison since August 2023, Khan remains the central figure in Pakistan's political confrontation.
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Khan → remain → confrontation
His party continues to demand his release, access to family members and lawyers, and relief in the cases against him.
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party → continue → him
The PTI's position also raises a crucial question: can its leadership outside prison negotiate or signal a compromise without Khan's explicit approval?
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leadership → raise → approval
Bukhari's August remarks came with the caveat that the former prime minister's own thinking might be different.
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thinking → come → caveat
For now, the signals remain contradictory.
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signals → remain → ?
Two members of Khan's family have been released, he has received medical treatment, and a senior PTI aide has previously spoken of reconciliation.
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aide → release → reconciliation
But the government has denied any political bargain, and there is no evidence of direct negotiations with Munir.
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government → deny → Munir
Whether the latest developments represent isolated legal and medical decisions or the beginning of a fresh political opening remains the question.
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represent → represent → opening
The Aporia
