On February 19, 2026, Rana Sanaullah, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had initially agreed to apologize for the May 9, 2023 riots but later retracted his agreement. Sanaullah stated, "He is not ready for any deal," emphasizing that the government had made two serious attempts to negotiate, which Khan ultimately refused. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar echoed this sentiment, asserting that there was "neither any deal nor any leniency for Imran" and labeling him a "criminal convicted by courts". Tarar further dismissed media reports suggesting concessions for Khan as "entirely false and misleading". Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence related to corruption, and faces additional legal challenges, including pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act.