PTI welcomes US-Iran thaw, demands swift Imran Khan release for national harmony

Waqas Slams Tax Burden on Power Bills, Demands Immediate Relief from Fuel Price Cuts to Consumers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) welcomed recent diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran but emphasised the need for focused attention on Pakistan’s domestic challenges, including the early release of PTI founder Imran Khan to facilitate broader political engagement and national harmony.

In a statement issued by the party’s Central Media Department on Thursday, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram expressed serious concern over prolonged judicial delays in matters concerning the fundamental rights of PTI’s founding chairman and his spouse Bushra Bibi.

Waqas stated that PTI holds the judiciary in high regard as a cornerstone of constitutional governance and the rule of law. However, he noted with concern the extended delays in proceedings related to bail applications, medical access, and other urgent legal matters involving Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. He said the cases had remained pending for sixteen months in the Islamabad High Court, and that critical issues such as Imran Khan’s eye condition, which requires timely attention, have not received the expeditious hearing they warrant.

PTI CIS urged the judiciary to ensure that matters touching upon fundamental rights and human dignity are disposed of with the urgency and priority they deserve under the Constitution, so that justice is not only done but seen to be done without avoidable procedural impediments.

On regional developments, Waqas welcomed the US-Iran memorandum of understanding as a constructive step towards de escalation, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and greater regional stability. He observed that this development demonstrates the value of dialogue between sovereign states. While such diplomatic progress is encouraging, he added, it stands in contrast to the pressing internal challenges Pakistan faces, as the party continues to believe that the immediate release of Imran Khan would create the necessary environment for meaningful political dialogue and national reconciliation, an objective that has also been highlighted by other political figures, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Addressing the PPP’s position on the budget, Waqas described the party’s rapid shift from vocal opposition to participation following meetings with the government as a familiar pattern in Pakistani politics. He noted that such abrupt changes often raise questions about the underlying considerations, including potential accommodations on funds, ministries, or political influence in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. PTI CIS maintained that budgetary decisions should prioritise the welfare of ordinary citizens rather than elite bargaining.

Commenting on the government’s handling of petroleum prices, he said that despite a significant decline in global crude oil rates, relief has not been promptly passed on to consumers. PTI CIS demanded that prices be reduced without further delay, at least to pre-conflict levels. He said that the contrast between the swift imposition of additional levies and the slow reversal reflects a selective approach that ultimately burdens the public.

On economic measures, Waqas highlighted the substantial amounts collected through taxes embedded in electricity bills, reportedly exceeding Rs. 620 billion, as well as the continued accumulation of external debt. He stated that these policies have placed heavy pressure on middle and lower income households while certain exemptions and facilities appear to have been extended to other segments. “PTI calls for the immediate rollback of such additional levies so that any global price benefits reach citizens directly and transparently,” he demanded.

Regarding Balochistan, Waqas strongly condemned the use of force against peacefully protesting government employees who were demanding a reasonable pay adjustment. PTI CIS demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested employees and a fair, negotiated resolution of their grievances.

Waqas concluded by reaffirming PTI’s commitment to the supremacy of the Constitution, the protection of fundamental rights, and peaceful political struggle through all lawful means.