ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s political confrontation has taken fresh turn as Rana Sanaullah accused Murad Saeed of influencing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government from Afghanistan, prompting a sharp response from PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who has questioned why negotiations between the government and the opposition were abandoned.
The latest exchange comes amid mounting tensions after collapse of political negotiations and the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While government representatives have blamed alleged interference by Saeed and former KP chief minister Sohail Afridi, PTI leaders are demanding an explanation for the government’s decision to walk away from the negotiating table.
Sanaullah claimed that Saeed was in Afghanistan and alleged that he was exercising influence over the provincial administration from there. He also questioned Afridi’s selection as chief minister, claiming that Saeed had played a role in the appointment and asserting that PTI founder Imran Khan did not even know Afridi.
The government adviser further accused Saeed and Afridi of contributing to the failure of negotiations, insisting that the government had participated in the process sincerely and was willing to accommodate PTI’s demands. However, the allegations about Saeed’s location and his purported control over provincial affairs have not been independently verified.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan challenged the government’s attempt to place responsibility for the failed negotiations on Murad Saeed, arguing that the real issue is why the dialogue came to an abrupt end. Gohar questioned which side withdrew from the negotiating process and what prompted the decision, particularly after considerable effort had been made to bring government and opposition representatives together.
He also raised questions about the government’s decision to abandon the discussions over the fourth clause of a proposed five-point draft agreement.
His response has shifted the political debate towards the government’s handling of the negotiations, with PTI seeking clarity over why the process was discontinued instead of being taken forward.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also made significant claims about Saeed’s alleged involvement in the negotiations during a Senate session around October 13. Naqvi said the government had information about Saeed and indicated that it would disclose the details. He alleged that the two sides had come close to an agreement before the draft was forwarded to Saeed through Afridi.
Saeed was effectively making decisions while Afridi was allegedly following his instructions. Naqvi linked the breakdown of the talks to the subsequent imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in the province. The claims have added another layer to the dispute, with the government presenting alleged behind-the-scenes interference as a key reason for the negotiations’ failure.
PTI, however, has questioned this account and maintained that the government’s withdrawal from the dialogue requires a clear explanation.
The negotiations held in early October 2026 were intended to reduce political tensions, avert a possible PTI long march and address disagreements over counterterrorism cooperation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The discussions involved senior PTI figures, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja, alongside government representatives. Several draft proposals were reportedly prepared as both sides attempted to reach a settlement.
PTI’s position focused on securing access to jailed party founder Imran Khan and ensuring that counterterrorism measures were not imposed by the federal government without meaningful provincial consultation. Despite reports of progress, the negotiations ended without a final agreement, leaving both sides accusing the other of contributing to the breakdown.
The controversy surrounding the failed talks comes days after the federal government imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
CM Sohail Afridi became chief minister in October 2025 after Ali Amin Gandapur resigned. Reports at the time suggested that Gandapur’s departure followed instructions from Imran Khan. Afridi’s tenure ended on October 11, 2026, when the federal government invoked Article 232 of the Constitution for emergency measures and Article 234 for governor’s rule. The government cited security concerns, terrorism and alleged shortcomings in provincial cooperation.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi subsequently assumed administrative control of the province. Reports also indicated that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been detained. PTI rejected the federal intervention, describing it as politically motivated and disputing the government’s justification for taking control of provincial administration.
Murad Saeed’s alleged presence in Afghanistan has emerged as another point of contention in the ongoing political dispute. Saeed has faced several legal cases, including proceedings connected to the May 9, 2023, incidents. He has also been declared an absconder in certain cases and has remained out of public view for extended periods.
Government officials have previously made claims about his whereabouts. In late 2024, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reportedly claimed that Saeed was staying at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s residence.
Despite his prolonged absence from public appearances, Saeed has continued to release audio and video messages criticizing the government and the country’s powerful establishment. As of October 14, 2026, however, his alleged presence in Afghanistan has not been independently confirmed. Claims that he controlled the KP government from abroad, influenced Afridi’s appointment or dictated the course of negotiations remain allegations made by government representatives.
