ISLAMABAD — Representatives from Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), engaged in discussions with government officials on Monday regarding the liberation of their leader and other detained political activists, according to official reports.

Since the parliamentary elections held in February, where their key opponent, Shehbaz Sharif, emerged as prime minister, Khan and the PTI have not been in communication with the government. The PTI has voiced allegations that the elections were conducted unfairly.

The meeting took place in Islamabad, facilitated by Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of the National Assembly, who has been working to foster dialogue between the conflicting parties.

Sadiq mentioned that the discussions were conducted in a positive atmosphere, and both parties are expected to reconvene on January 2. The PTI is advocating not just for Khan’s release but also for the liberation of supporters who were arrested during protests aimed at securing his freedom.

Khan, who lost his position through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, is currently facing over 180 legal challenges. After being sentenced in one of these cases, he was incarcerated last year. Although his sentence was reversed upon appeal, he remains in custody due to several ongoing legal matters.