By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has made access to jailed leader Imran Khan a condition for calling off a protest planned in a restricted area of Islamabad, which is set to coincide with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the capital on Oct 15-16.
PTI’s Punjab chapter acting president Hammad Azhar directed office-bearers to converge on Islamabad on Oct. 15 unless lawyers and doctors are granted access to Khan in Adiala Jail.
“The ticket-holders and office-bearers not reaching Islamabad on Oct 15 will be stripped of their privileges and offices,” Azhar warned in a video message, vowing to lead the peaceful protest despite “severe threats” to his life.
“Why is this ‘selected’ government so afraid of allowing a meeting with Imran Khan? If it’s so concerned about the SCO summit, then allow a meeting with Khan.”
He added that the government was hatching a conspiracy against PTI. “Why is the government trying to keep the nation in the dark about the health and well-being of Imran Khan?”
Azhar recalled that access was allowed to PTI officials at odd hours in Adiala Jail ahead of a protest in Sangjani, Islamabad to persuade PTI to call it off. “Why can’t the Adiala Jail doors be opened now.”
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rejected the PTI proposal.
PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said if the government is worried about the SCO, then allow a meeting with Khan.
“You can open the jail for a jalsa […] so if you’re worried about the SCO, then allow a meeting with Khan,” Akram said. “If his sisters and doctors say that everything is fine after meeting him, then there’ll be no protest.”
Akram stressed the meeting would take 10-15 minutes and expressed concern for Khan’s health. “You’ve made us incommunicado.”
PTI wrote to the Ministry of Interior requesting a meeting between party chairman Barrister Gohar and Hamid Raza with Khan. The letter noted their last meeting was on Oct. 3.
Akram also dispelled reports of internal differences in PTI over protests during the SCO meetings in the capital.
Media reported that PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur opposed the rally, while Azhar and party general secretary Salman Akram Raja advocated for holding the protest.
The government and allies, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), urged PTI to reconsider the rally’s date due to the SCO summit.
PTI leader Asad Qaiser said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has requested the party to postpone planned protests in the country’s interest.
In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Rehman agreed to facilitate a meeting between PTI leaders and former Prime Minister Khan, Qaiser told reporters.
“The JUI-F chief has appealed to the government to allow PTI lawyers to meet Imran Khan, citing concerns over his health and well-being.”
Khan’s decision is crucial, as only he can call off the protests, Qaiser noted.
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