Jailed PTI leaders urge national reconciliation amid rising regional tensions, economic risks

LAHORE: Five senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), currently imprisoned at Kot Lakhpat Jail, on Tuesday called on the government to urgently revisit its policies to confront mounting national and regional challenges, stressing that “national reconciliation is the need of the hour.”

The leaders—Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema—issued the statement through their lawyer, highlighting what they described as rapidly deteriorating security, diplomatic and economic conditions.

They warned that escalating terrorism linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), strained relations with Afghanistan, and intensifying conflict in the Middle East had destabilised the broader region. Referring to the recent attack on Iran by the United States and Israel during ongoing negotiations and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, the leaders said the developments had heightened uncertainty and security risks.

The PTI figures also described growing strategic cooperation between India and Israel as a “serious threat” to Pakistan, urging the government to reassess its regional posture.

Turning to economic concerns, they cautioned that rising oil and gas prices following hostilities in the Middle East could have an immediate impact on Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, achieved at what they termed a “huge price” paid by the public.

“Tensions in the Gulf states will negatively influence remittances and the investment climate,” the statement said, adding that public anger and unrest witnessed across parts of the country, resulting in loss of lives, was a matter of grave concern.

“Business as usual is no longer possible. Current developments will have a negative impact on Pakistan’s economy, security, and stability,” they warned.

The imprisoned leaders further expressed alarm over India’s reported decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, alongside its efforts to expand water storage capacity on the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. They termed the situation “not only alarming but potentially devastating for the agrarian economy,” particularly in the absence of domestic political consensus on critical water projects.

“We do not have the luxury of time anymore; we must reconcile immediately,” the PTI leaders concluded, reiterating their call for national unity to confront what they described as an unprecedented convergence of security, diplomatic, and economic challenges.