PTI in contact with all those who can restore democracy, get Imran released: Saif

RAWALPINDI/ LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been trying to establish contact and reach an understanding with the establishment and other stakeholders in the country for the restoration of democracy and release of its founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

This confirmation came from the adviser to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, Barrister Muhammad Saif, when he talked to anchorperson Shahzad Iqbalon Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ on Friday.

He explained that the establishment is a key player in the Pakistani system and the PTI wants to develop an understanding with it and other political players, including the federal government, to strengthen democracy and get the PTI founder and other leaders of party released so that Khan could play his democratic role.

Saif said the PTI was trying to have talks with the establishment on the basis of guidance given by the party founder who had said that he was willing to talk to the establishment. He said the PTI would avail any opportunity to have talks with the establishment, but clarified that those talks would not be held to strike any deal, but only to ensure restoration of democratic values and democratic rights in the country. He remarked that the release of the PTI founder was important for the restoration of democratic process in the country.

Answering a query, he remarked that the understanding between the PTI, the establishment and other stakeholders has resulted from the realisation that Imran Khan has not budged under pressure and his party leaders and workers are showing resilience.

Barrister Saif said that it is because of this realization that Bushra Bibi has not been implicated in new cases after her release.The PTI founder has been maintaining absolute silence for the past two days during his ongoing jail trial.

During hearings on Thursday and Friday, he did not interact with media persons, nor did he appear at the rostrum in the courtroom. He neither complained to the court on any issue nor left his chair in the courtroom.

He also refrained from levelling allegations against the government during the past four to five hearings. Bushra Bibi after her release from imprisonment appeared once during the trial of the case at Adiala Jail. The sisters of the former PM also didn’t visit Adiala Jail for the past two days.

Lawyers and party leaders who came to meet the PTI leader also didn’t interact with media persons in this period. Barrister Salman Akram Raja and Babar Awan also didn’t talk to media persons after the hearing of the trial on Friday.

PTI leaders haven’t been offering any comment on the mysterious silence maintained by the former PM.In Lahore, former first lady and Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi has prolonged her stay in Zaman Park.

She is likely to meet party workers and issue instructions to Khan’s supporters regarding party mobilisation. Bushra Bibi was released a few days ago from jail. After release, she stayed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for a few days. Aleema Khan, sister of Imran Khan also held meetings with PTI workers a few days ago.