Premature to say Qureshi taking over PTI leadership: Salman

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja Wednesday said that it was ‘premature’ to say that Shah Mehmood Qureshi would take over the party leadership.

Talking to the media at the Islamabad High Court here, Raja explained that Qureshi still has eight or nine cases pending against him, and that he may not be coming out. He categorically said that it was premature to talk about his release or taking over the leadership because several cases against him were still pending in courts, and the chances of his immediate release are low.

“We will see what happens now, what do the decision-makers and planners want to do, as the entire nation is being told that the justice system is no longer the justice system,” he contended.

In connection with the May 9 incidents, several PTI leaders and workers were sentenced to 10 years in prison a day earlier, including Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and senior party leader and Dr Yasmin Rashid while Shah Mehmood Qureshi was acquitted.

The PTI secretary general expressed the resolve that they would continue to fight and speak for the independence of the judiciary, claiming the entire system was under control. “This is a challenge to the people and that living nations respond to it, and don’t remain silent in such situations.”

Salman Akram said: ‘We are all victims of fascism at this time, and no one is exempted.” Therefore, he emphasized, the public should not make any wrong assumptions. He claimed that what the state planners are doing with the judiciary and the system is before everyone.

He strongly criticised the current judicial system and said that now it was no longer a system of justice but a system of attacks, and this was not just a problem of the PTI but of the entire nation.

Meanwhile, incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, met United States President Donald Trump’s aide Richard Grenell on Wednesday ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest for the party founder’s release from prison. Following Tuesday’s meeting, Grenell, US special presidential envoy for special missions, took to ‘X’ and said that he had met Sulaiman and Kasim in California, urging them to “stay strong”. “There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone.” Dr Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani-American physician, was also present on the occasion. He shared a picture along with Grenell and former premier’s sons. “Immense pride for Kasim and Sulaiman Khan for their bravery in fighting for their father, former prime minister Imran Khan’s freedom,” he said. He also praised Grenell for “standing for justice and principle” and called for unity to free the PTI founder.

Separately, Kasim also took to X and slammed the incumbent government over his father’s “imprisonment and torture”. He said that his father gave everything to this country — “sacrificing comfort, peace, and safety to fight for Pakistan’s future”.

“Today, he is silenced, tortured, imprisoned, and completely cut off from us. From the moment we could understand, he taught my brother and me how devastating a corrupt government can be. To see him now accused of that very crime is a cruel, intolerable irony,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) ordered to provide copies of challan to the present accused in protest cases registered against PTI founder Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and others. Judge Tahir Abbas Sapra heard the case. During the hearing, the court summoned the accused who appeared. The court distributed copies of the challans to them, while issuing arrest warrants for the absent accused, saying that the accused will be indicted in the next hearing of the case. The court adjourned the hearing of both the cases till July 30. Two cases are registered against Imran, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and others in Khanna Police Station.

Meanwhile, a local court in Islamabad issued an arrest warrant for former Sindh governor and PTI leader Imran Ismail in connection with the long march vandalism case. The court directed police to arrest Ismail and produce him before the court.

The case, registered at the Bhara Kahu Police Station, includes charges such as vandalism and disturbing public order. The next hearing has been scheduled for today (Thursday).