Pakistan’s incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed willingness for “conditional negotiations” with the influential military of the nation and has designated a representative for the discussions.

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“We are prepared for talks under certain conditions if a representative from the military leadership is appointed,” as stated in a message attributed to Khan from inside his jail, shared on his official X page on Wednesday.

Khan emphasized that one of the stipulations for the dialogue is the conduct of “clean and transparent” elections, along with the dismissal of what he refers to as “baseless” charges against his supporters.

To represent him in the talks, he has assigned Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a close political associate and a prominent figure in a smaller political party.

Although the military, which has directly governed Pakistan for almost half of its 76-year existence but denies any involvement in politics, has not responded to the proposition yet.

The government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused Khan of seeking talks with the military and urged him to apologize for his previous criticisms of the institution, as reported by local media outlets.

Marriyum Aurangzeb of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party remarked, “The self-proclaimed revolutionary, who previously vowed not to seek pardon, is now imploring the armed forces to engage in talks with him.”

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denounced Khan’s offer as a “plot against the country” and another effort by the PTI founder to embroil state bodies in his “unscrupulous politics.”

Khan has been in custody since last August and has been convicted in certain cases prior to a national election in February. He is also contesting numerous ongoing cases.

Khan and his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) assert that the charges against them are politically motivated to obstruct his return to power.

PTI-supported candidates made a stronger-than-anticipated showing in this year’s election, and a court recently ruled them eligible for additional reserved seats, although still insufficient to secure a majority outright.

On July 22, police conducted a raid on the PTI headquarters in Islamabad, a week after Sharif’s administration, believed to be supported by the military, pledged to outlaw the primary opposition party.

Earlier this month, a judge in Islamabad overturned Khan’s conviction in an unlawful marriage case, while the Supreme Court granted PTI more parliamentary seats, positioning it as the largest party in the National Assembly.

These developments were considered significant setbacks for Sharif, who obtained a parliamentary majority after the February election by forming a coalition.

The attempt to ban PTI was denounced by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan as “a severe blow to democratic principles” and seen as a sign of “political desperation.”

A panel of experts from the United Nations concluded this month that Khan’s detention “lacked legal grounds and seemed to be aimed at disqualifying him from standing for political office.”