Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Thursday said they were once again denied permission to meet party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, despite following all required procedures.
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial minister Kamran Khan Bangash told media persons that all individuals whose names were officially submitted for the meeting arrived at Adiala Jail at around 2pm and registered themselves at the gate. However, he said, they were not allowed to meet Imran Khan.
Bangash alleged that Imran Khan and his wife were being kept in solitary confinement, calling it “cruelty and abuse” and claiming that even winter clothing sent for the PTI founder was not being delivered.
He further referred to a human rights report, alleging inhuman treatment of Imran Khan’s wife in custody.
He said PTI remained committed to the Constitution and the rule of law, while terming the judiciary’s current position as “helpless.” Bangash also alleged that conspiracies were being planned against the judiciary through proposed constitutional amendments.
Commenting on party matters, he said PTI respected Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar, but maintained that those who had left the party could only return if permitted by the founder himself.
Meanwhile, Member of the National Assembly Sajid Khan Mohmand said the delegation had come to the jail with “great hope,” especially in light of recent statements regarding possible negotiations. He reiterated PTI’s stance that it would not hold talks with what he termed an “illegitimate government,” adding that Imran Khan had authorised Mahmood Khan Achakzai to negotiate on the party’s behalf.
Mohmand said Achakzai had expressed readiness for talks a day earlier, raising expectations that a meeting with the PTI founder would be allowed and a positive message would emerge.
He alleged that, in the past, political leaders such as Nawaz Sharif were allowed to meet people in groups while in detention.
He also criticised the government, alleging it had “sold PIA” and lacked the mandate to govern, and vowed that PTI would not retreat from its political objectives.
Separately, Punjab Assembly member Faisal Khan Niazi rejected claims of divisions within PTI, saying the individuals referred to by Aleema Khan had no connection with the party.
He stressed that any negotiations would only take place under the platform of the Movement for the Protection of the Constitution, adding that “unrelated people” had no authority to speak on PTI’s behalf.
