Rana Sanaullah Denies House Arrest Offer to Imran Khan, Dismisses US Envoy’s Support as Irrelevant
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, addressed potential government demands in ongoing negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during an appearance on News Channel.
Rana Sanaullah emphasized that the PML-N-led government intends to complete its five-year term, suggesting that if PTI Chairman Imran Khan prefers to avoid imprisonment at Adiala Jail, he should remain at home and let the government function uninterrupted.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Imran Khan revealed on Friday that he was offered house arrest as part of a deal. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he claimed, “The proposal I received was: Negotiate with us, and we will give your party ‘political space,’ but you will be placed under house arrest at Bani Gala.” Khan rejected the proposal, insisting on the release of all political prisoners and stating, “I would rather stay in jail than accept such a deal. I will not agree to house arrest or imprisonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
Contrary to Khan’s assertion, Rana Sanaullah denied any such offer from the government, explaining that the courts, not the government, might grant house arrest to Imran Khan due to his status as a former prime minister.
Regarding the possibility of agreeing to elections within two to three years during negotiations with PTI, Sanaullah firmly declared the government’s stance as “non-negotiable.”
When questioned about US President-elect Donald Trump’s appointee, Richard Grenell, and his social media posts supporting Imran Khan, Rana Sanaullah dismissed them as irrelevant. “Even if Donald Trump himself makes such statements, we should not be concerned,” he remarked.
Rana Sanaullah labeled Grenell’s remarks as a mere publicity stunt, asserting, “Grenell’s statements hold no significance for the government.”
Richard Grenell, a former US ambassador to Germany and recently appointed Special Envoy for Global Missions by Donald Trump, initially tweeted in favor of Imran Khan during the November 26 crackdown on PTI demonstrators in Islamabad. While the post gained little traction at the time, Grenell’s support became more prominent on December 15, when PTI supporters amplified his remarks on social media following his appointment by Trump.
