Imran denies secret talks for release

RAWALPINDI: In a defiant statement issued from the Adiala jail, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has vehemently rejected any suggestion of a negotiated settlement with the establishment. This denial comes amidst swirling rumours of backroom dealings aimed at securing his release.

“There is no deal. I have not authorized anyone to negotiate on my behalf,” asserted PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, relaying Khan’s message to the press following a permitted legal visit. “Any impression of an agreement is categorically false.” Gohar emphasized that they do not want to make a deal, as Imran Khan has said that his release will be in accordance with the law and the Constitution.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar also said there is a conspiracy to sow rift within the PTI founder’s family by letting Bushra Bibi meet him while denying his sisters to do so on the scheduled meeting day. “It is condemnable that Imran Khan’s family is not permitted to meet him,” Gohar stated, confirming the party’s intention to file a petition against this restriction.

Adding to the controversy, Gohar alleged that while Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi and the family were granted visitation, it was a calculated attempt to sow discord. “This too is a conspiracy to create rift within the family,” he charged.

Faisal Chaudhry, another lawyer who met Khan, echoed these sentiments in a tweet, stating, “Alhamdulillah, I had the honour of meeting our respected leader Imran Khan. He expressed regret over the ban on meeting his sisters and directed Barrister Salman Safdar to file a contempt of court petition.” Chaudhry also noted Khan’s surprise at certain party members restricting visitors, even as others were allowed access.

Khan also issued directives to the PTI leadership against making any statements against each other. “Today Imran Khan has given strict instructions to the party that party leaders, workers or officials will not make any statements against each other in the media or in public,” Gohar maintained.

The PTI chairman also said that Imran has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly not to pass the Mines and Minerals Bill until discussions with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other political figures are completed. Quoting Imran, Gohar said the founder also directed the provincial assembly to pass another resolution demanding swift decisions on all pending PTI petitions and added they will also request the Peshawar High Court to decide their petitions as soon as possible.

Furthermore, Gohar said Khan has called for an extension to the repatriation timeline for Afghan refugees, instructing the KP Assembly to pass a resolution requesting the federal government to extend the period for the return of Afghans, and the provincial government should also be given a timeframe so that if it wants to talk to the Afghan government on this issue, it can do so.

About the prospects of a grand opposition alliance, he said Imran Khan has called for intensifying talks with potential allies. Apart from this, ‘all options including protests are open before us’. “We want everyone to come together on a short agenda of rule of law, elections should not be stolen, and the judiciary should be independent. On this, we request all opposition political parties to support us, and we should launch a movement for achieving the goal of real democracy in Pakistan,” Gohar contended.

In a related development, Aleema Khan said the police had assured them of letting them meet their brother on Thursday. Talking to the media on her return from Gorakhpur Checkpoint in Rawalpindi, Aleema Khan said that the police have never made a promise before, but they have promised today about Thursday’s meeting. On this assurance, she said they returned from the checkpoint. Aleema Khan said it has been a month since we met our brother last.

She said that today the court has also instructed the founder of the party should be facilitated to talk with his children, the doctor should also be given access to him, and a meeting of political leaders with Imran will also be arranged on Thursday. Aleema said that the meeting of political leaders has not been arranged for five months. She added that the founder is open to meeting with everyone but the jail authorities do not arrange meetings according to the list.

Aleema Khan said that Salman Akram Raja, Zaheer Abbas and Salman Safdar are our lawyers as well as our party leaders but they both are not being allowed to meet the party founder, which is necessary, Aleema concluded.