RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has instructed party members to resign from all parliamentary committees, his sister Aleema Khan said on Tuesday.
“The PTI founder has ordered party members to tender their resignations from all standing committees in the National Assembly,” she said while speaking to journalists outside Adiala jail after meeting her brother.
Along with sister Uzma Khan, she claimed that the party would not participate in the upcoming by-elections, saying the former prime minister had directed them to focus instead on the political movement.
Responding to reports of a dispute with PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Aleema Khan denied any harsh exchange of words, saying, “He is our lawyer and like family to us.”
She said that questions regarding the by-elections and the political committee should be directed to him.
Uzma Khan elaborated on the party’s decision, saying Imran Khan had made it “very clear that we will not contest the by-elections.” She explained that taking part in the elections would not benefit the PTI and would instead “justify the unfair disqualifications” of its members.
“The founder told us they will not let us win; they will make their chosen people win,” Uzma Khan said. She quoted Imran Khan as directing the party to “focus on the movement” instead of engaging in an electoral process that, he believes, would legitimise the alleged disqualifications.
Aleema Khan also spoke about the arrests of her children, Shahrez and Shershah Khan, claiming they were “picked up” despite having no political involvement. “These arrests do not affect us,” she said, urging authorities to arrest her instead. She suggested the authorities were “afraid of our children,” adding that family members conveying Imran Khan’s message were simply reflecting his official stance.
PTI Chairman Gohar Khan said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hold a major rally in September for the release of the party’s founder.
Speaking to the media outside the Adiala jail after meeting Imran Khan, he said the founder’s prison facilities had been restored, and he was now being provided newspapers and books.
Gohar said he was very happy to have met the PTI founder after three months, adding that it was a pleasant meeting and such interactions should continue without restrictions. He announced that next month a massive rally would be organised for the independence of the judiciary, restoration of democracy and release of the PTI founder.
He said the PTI founder had expressed sorrow and grief over the devastation caused by torrential rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had directed full-scale relief operations for the rehabilitation of flood victims.
In response to a question, Barrister Gohar clarified that Salman Akram Raja had never resigned; therefore, the issue of accepting or rejecting his resignation did not arise.
Separately speaking to reporters outside Adiala jail, Barrister Raja confirmed that Imran Khan did not accept his resignation and instead gave him instructions to continue his duties. He said Imran Khan has delegated the decision on contesting the upcoming by-elections to the PTI political committee.
Barrister Raja said that Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz remain the opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate and are actively pursuing their cases in court.
Furthermore, he disclosed that Imran Khan has once again endorsed Mehmood Khan Achakzai for the position of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
Sources, however, say that Imran has nominated Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Nasir Abbas as opposition leader in the Senate.
