Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that former prime minister Imran Khan is unwilling to engage with political forces to reform Pakistan’s political system.
Speaking on Samaa TV’s programme Red Line with Talat Hussain, Rana Sanaullah said that even 11 years after the Army Public School (APS) tragedy, the nation continues to condemn terrorism and its devastating consequences. He recalled a recent attempted attack on a cadet college, warning that it could have caused damage similar to or even worse than the APS attack had it succeeded.
Referring to the APS tragedy, Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan lacked unity on counterterrorism before the incident. He noted that debates over so-called “good” and “bad” Taliban had divided the nation, delaying effective action. According to him, terrorism declined only after a national consensus emerged following the APS attack, but confusion later returned when militants were allowed to re-enter the country.
He questioned who made the decision to negotiate with terrorists, saying the talks failed and violence resumed. Rana Sanaullah asked why calls were now being made to avoid operations against terrorists and warned that advocating dialogue with militants only creates uncertainty. He also criticised opposition to intelligence-based operations, calling it dangerous for national security.
The adviser said former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed had briefed the government at the time on allowing militants to return. He claimed it was argued that militants would keep their weapons and be absorbed into society under constitutional and legal frameworks.
Rana Sanaullah further alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan remains committed to what he described as an “armed struggle.” He referred to incidents on May 9, May 25, and November 26, claiming there were intentions to resort to violence, although those efforts failed. He alleged that PTI was waiting for another opportunity to create unrest.
He said the state has now taken an unambiguous decision to eliminate terrorism. “The nation has decided to deal with terrorists with an iron hand,” he said, adding that those advocating talks must also be ready for strict action.
Commenting on the sentencing of Faiz Hameed, Rana Sanaullah said Nawaz Sharif did not make extensive remarks on the matter, only describing it as retribution. He alleged that Faiz Hameed violated discipline and misused authority, particularly in the Top City case, adding that the issue reflected a wider systemic problem rather than the actions of a single individual.
Rana Sanaullah said correcting the political system would be the greatest form of accountability and relief. He added that after the PML-N and PPP agreed on a democratic charter, a “third force” disrupted the process. According to him, accountability must be impartial and should provide public confidence when institutions act without discrimination.
