In a move that could potentially ease Pakistan’s fraught political climate, a government minister has said authorities are open to relocating former Prime Minister Imran Khan to his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad — albeit under certain conditions.
“If Imran Khan wishes to move, we can shift him to Bani Gala. There, he can play Ludo or Carrom if he wants, and meet whomever he pleases,” remarked Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry appearing in a Hum News TV discussion program.
It remains unclear whether the proposal — which would offer the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman a more relaxed confinement compared to his current custodial setting — carries the approval of top political leadership or the military establishment, often accused by opposition parties of interference in civilian affairs. The military denies such allegations.
BREAKING NEWS 🚨🚨🚨
وفاقی حکومت عمران خان کو بنی گالہ منتقل کرنے کو تیار۔۔۔ پی ٹی آئی درخواست دے ہم عمران خان کو بنی گالہ منتقل کر دیتے ہیں۔۔۔ ابھی تک ہمارے پاس کوئی درخواست نہیں آئی۔۔
وفاقی وزیر پارلیمانی امور طارق فضل چوہدری کی بڑی آفر۔۔#FaislaAapKa TEAM
Hum News… pic.twitter.com/NmsOYumjlj— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) October 22, 2025
Echoing similar sentiments, senior PML-N leader and former Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also voiced personal support for the relocation:
“If the PTI files a request in court to transfer Imran Khan to Zaman Park or Bani Gala, my personal opinion is that the government should not object to it,” he said.
The statements have reignited debate within Pakistan’s political and legal circles over the treatment and living conditions of Imran Khan, who has remained incarcerated following multiple convictions — trials his supporters and some legal experts describe as politically motivated and procedurally flawed.
Khan was ousted as prime minister in 2022 through a no-confidence vote brought by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party — erstwhile bitter rivals who later formed the ruling coalition following the 2024 elections. Those polls were widely criticized as rigged by independent observers, human rights organizations, and much of the Pakistani public.
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Analysts are divided on the implications of the government’s latest statements. Some interpret them as a potential softening of tone aimed at reducing polarization, while others see them as an attempt to mitigate mounting international criticism over Pakistan’s democratic backsliding.
In Washington, lawmakers have recently introduced a bill targeting Pakistan’s power elite for curtailing human rights and democratic freedoms, while many Pakistani expatriates object to continued detention of Khan’s aides, harsh treatment of PTI workers, and alleged judicial manipulation.
Political observers note that if Chaudhry and Sanaullah’s remarks were made in earnest, they could align with recent calls for national reconciliation and political de-escalation. However, skeptics argue the statements may instead be a calculated display of leniency designed to maintain firm control over Khan’s political movement.
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Prominent political analyst Najam Sethi dismissed the proposal as sounding something like political gimmickry.
“The government might use a PTI application as a sign of Imran Khan’s weakness. I doubt Khan, a bold person, will approve such an application,” Sethi said on his television program.
He added that the offer could also be a tactical attempt to pacify the PTI, which has called for mass demonstrations.
Meanwhile, PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that the party could consider the offer — but only if the government demonstrates sincerity.
“I have a gut feeling that the government will backtrack. However, if it is serious, we can discuss the offer within the party, our legal team, and with Imran Khan. If Khan sahib agrees, we will definitely submit the written application,” he said in remarks reported by the paper.
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Qaiser emphasized that Khan, who has been imprisoned for over two years, is now legally entitled to bail and urged the government to allow the judiciary to act independently.
“If the government is serious, it should remove pressure from the judiciary and let the courts decide freely,” he added.
Legal experts caution that any relocation from a high-security facility to a private residence would require court authorization and strict security protocols.
“Even if the government agrees in principle, the final decision rests with the judiciary,” a senior legal analyst noted.
Despite imprisonment, Imran Khan remains a dominant figure in Pakistan’s political landscape, commanding a vast and loyal following. His party maintains that his convictions are politically driven, aimed at excluding him from future elections.
Whether the government’s overture represents genuine conciliation or mere political theater remains uncertain.
For now, the remarks by two senior ministers have injected a new dimension into the ongoing debate over how Pakistan’s most popular — and most polarizing — political leader should be treated.
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Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 30 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 1997.
