PESHAWAR: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday rejected party leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif’s claims, saying the party had made every possible effort to secure a meeting with incarcerated founder Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media in Peshawar, Gohar termed as “baseless” Saif’s assertion that PTI leaders had failed to meet Imran despite being offered an opportunity to do so.
“We made every possible effort to meet the PTI founder through the courts and negotiations, but despite all our efforts, we were not allowed even a single meeting,” he said.
Gohar said access to Imran had also been one of the party’s conditions during the negotiation process.
He rejected the assertions made by Saif during his interview, saying: “All of Barrister Saif’s claims are false. I reject them.”
Saif, during an interview on Geo News programme Jirga, had said that Allama Raja Nasir Abbas was in direct contact with important figures in the establishment, but maintained that those contacts were not aimed at securing Imran’s release.
Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja linked any party decision on the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment to a meeting with Imran.
Raja also expressed his inability to exercise control over PTI’s social media.
PTI dismisses reports of internal divisions
Moreover, PTI today dismissed reports of internal divisions, saying the entire party remained united behind its founder, his ideology and mission.
In a statement issued after a meeting of its political committee, the party said there was no grouping or division within its ranks and that its leaders and workers would continue their struggle towards their shared objectives.
The committee also discussed the country’s political situation, inflation and law and order, according to the statement.
It demanded the immediate release of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, provincial assembly speaker and other detained parliamentarians, describing their detention as illegal.
PTI said keeping elected representatives in custody was an affront to democratic values and the public mandate.
The political committee expressed concern over reports that Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi had been shifted to hospital without their families being taken into confidence.
It demanded immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s order regarding medical treatment for the PTI founder and called for his family to be regularly informed about his health.
The committee also demanded that Imran’s family be allowed to meet and visit him, while appropriate medical facilities and family meetings should also be ensured for Bushra Bibi.
PTI also condemned the arrest of Imran’s sisters and their treatment in custody, demanding their immediate release and permission for them to meet the former premier.
The committee raised concerns over the arrests of MNA Adil Bazai and other party leaders and workers, demanding the immediate release of all those detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
It said no individual should be subjected to retaliation over political differences.
PTI also condemned raids and vandalism at the residences of Omar Ayub, Sher Ali Arbab and Shah Ahad, saying targeting the homes and families of political opponents was condemnable.
Separately, the political committee expressed concern over the increasing incidents of terrorism in the country, describing the menace as a serious threat requiring effective and concerted measures.
The party said protecting citizens’ lives and property was a fundamental responsibility of the state.
It added that actions against terrorism should not be used for political retaliation.
