ISLAMABAD: A group of former leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday called on the government to release several senior party leaders on parole, describing the move as a crucial “confidence-building measure” aimed at easing the growing political polarisation in the country. The appeal was made in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by the newly-formed National Dialogue Committee (NDC), which consists of former PTI leaders who had left the party following the May 9 upheaval. The letter stresses the need for dialogue and reconciliation to address the country’s ongoing political, economic, and institutional crises. The letter, shared with the media by former PTI federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, also bears the signatures of former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Mahmood Maulvi, both members of the committee. Specifically, the letter calls for the parole release of key PTI leaders detained in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail, including former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, and Ejaz Chaudhry. The NDC argues that these leaders are crucial for any meaningful national dialogue and would play a pivotal role in the country’s efforts at political reconciliation. “This goodwill gesture would not only foster a positive and trust-filled environment for negotiations but also lay the foundations for restoring mutual confidence among all stakeholders,” the letter stated. Meanwhile, PTI is yet to break its silence on the letter, particularly given its repeated disavowal of the former leaders who resigned from the party during its most turbulent period. The leadership has consistently distanced itself from these individuals, questioning their commitment to the party’s cause during its most trying times. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025