ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf founder chairman Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan Tuesday announced that her brother has said that he would lead the proposed protest movement and that those unable to bear the burden of the movement should sideline themselves.
During his meeting with sisters Dr. Uzma and Naureen Niazi, Imran said that the peak of the proposed movement would be August 5, as on this date, he would complete two years of his confinement in the prison. This was stated by Aleema after meeting the party supremo in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
Talking to newsmen, Aleema said Imran’s two sons, Suleman and Qasim, will visit Pakistan to join the movement after visiting the US and highlight the alleged violations of their father’s fundamental rights. She said the party leadership will lead the movement along with Imran’s family and sisters who will fully participate in that. Quoting Imran, Aleema said all the doors had been shut on them, they have been left with no other option but to protest.
“He has been persecuted like no other prisoner. He has no access to TV, newspapers and visitors and has been living in isolation for almost 22 hours daily. His doctors have not been allowed to see him for the last 10 months. He is not even being allowed a pen and a paper,” Aleema said. “Even Bushra Bibi is being kept in solitary confinement, which is a serious violation of human rights.”
She said Imran wants all the people to come out for the restoration of rule of law and democracy and against the 26th Constitutional Amendment. Imran’s message for the unwilling leadership of the party is that those who cannot bear the weight of the movement should quit the party now or he would expel them after his release, Aleema explained. When Imran was informed about the PMLN willingness for negotiations, the PTI founder called for focusing on the movement, as he has been left with no other choice. Earlier, she told journalists at the Gorakhpur checkpoint that Imran Khan will outline a plan of action as now the 10th of Muharram has passed. She charged, “We are being denied meetings to fulfil the desire of Maryam Nawaz. They suspended 26 members of the Punjab Assembly to please her as she was unhappy over their protest in the Punjab Assembly.”
Talking to the media, following his meeting the party founder in Adiala jail, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said he has met the party founder after the gap of a month as earlier due to the NA budget session they could not meet him. He said a host of important matters including the proposed movement, party matters and legal issues were deliberated with the patron-in-chief. He said problems emerge “when he (Imran) is kept isolated, not given newspapers and not allowed to meet anyone,” he maintained.
Earlier, before the meeting, Gohar told newsmen, “If I meet the founder, I will talk about the PM’s offer of negotiations.” He said the prime minister while shaking hands with him in the parliament had said while that ‘we should hold talks and must utilize the Speaker’s office for that purpose.” Gohar said he is keeping all options open as it is a political struggle and efforts must be made to move ahead. “We have never avoided talks, but the founder has always stressed that the talks should be held with those who matter,” he contended. “If the government is serious about talks making a headway, then there should take some positive steps first. “
In response to a question, Gohar conceded that they could not form an alliance with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s JUI-F and insisted, however, that their paths were not different or separate.
Responding strongly to the PTI allegations of restricted visits to the PTI founder, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari pointed out that the PTI founder’s family members, legal team and Bushra Bibi’s relatives all visit and meet them separately — and yet they complain about not being allowed to meet. She sarcastically questioned: “Should we organize a political rally inside the jail so that the PTI founder can address fellow inmates?” Addressing Aleema Khan directly, she added: “Should we arrange an audience of prisoners so he can deliver a speech from prison?”
Bokhari emphasized that the law is being applied equally to all citizens in Punjab and cited the example of CM’s son being fined by the Lahore Traffic Police.