Khan may go soft on Sharif

• PTI sources say Imran Khan likely to withdraw demand of PM’s immediate resignation if govt agrees to party’s conditions
• Shireen Mazari says only party chairman will announce his future strategy on PM’s resignation

Even though Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has repeatedly expressed his resolve not to withdraw from his demand of seeking resignation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, yet sources in his party say the PTI chief may show flexibility in his demand and instead present a set of conditions that he expects the government to accept once he is in Islamabad.

Sources in the PTI told Pakistan Today that the party would present a set of conditions to the government and if it responded positively to those demands, Khan would back off from his call for the PM’s resignation.

Talking to Pakistan Today, PTI Central Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said that only the party chairman, Khan, would announce the future course of action with regard to his stance on the premier’s resignation.

“There has been no discussion on any set of conditions to be presented to the government as yet. Khan Sahib will take a decision on the matter when he deems appropriate,” she said, denying that the party was negotiating any “deal” with the government.

The development comes amidst reports that suggest that the military has brokered a “deal” between the besieged government and opposition PTI.

While the details of any such deal is not known yet, reports claim that the PTI has agreed not to demand immediate resignation of the prime minister and instead submit to its original demand of poll audit in some constituencies. Reports said the government has assured compliance, offering complete electoral reform and audit of votes according to the PTI’s demand.

PTI sources refused to verify these reports but confirmed that the party was looking to the Supreme Court for a solution to the rigging allegations which form the basis of PTI’s anti-government protests.