Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan summoned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for a meeting as he expressed reservations over the Mines and Minerals Bill.
The PTI founder, currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail, had reportedly also communicated his concerns to party members during a meeting with lawyers on Tuesday.
Sources divulged that during the meeting, Imran Khan expressed strong anger towards Sher Afzal Marwat’s recent statements. Imran Khan directed PTI Information Secretary Waqas Akram to issue a blunt response to the allegations made by Marwat. Imran stated, “Sher Afzal Marwat was planted in the PTI.”
Alongside his frustration with Marwat, Khan voiced his concerns over the Mines and Minerals Bill, which had raised significant controversy.
The PTI founder summoned Ali Amin Gandapur, instructing him to provide clarity on the bill’s implications.
He also sent a stern message to PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, criticizing his apologetic stance on recent matters.
Furthermore, Imran Khan issued directives for PTI’s Foundation Day, scheduled for April 25, and encouraged the leadership to resolve internal differences.
Khan also asked PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja to write to the Chief Justice of Pakistan regarding the non-implementation of the law.
“It is not appropriate for Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam to object to every contact," Khan remarked. “We want to take everyone along in the interest of the country and the people.”
The former prime minister further pointed out that the government had delayed talks with Afghanistan for far too long.
These political issues were discussed during the meeting, which also included a briefing by Usman Gul and Faisal Malik on legal matters.
After the meeting, Advocate Faisal Farid Chaudhry spoke to the media, revealing that a list of six lawyers had been provided to the PTI founder.
However, only two, Naeem Haider Panjhuta and Usman Gul, managed to meet with him, as the rest were stopped by jail authorities. “Imran Khan’s health is good,” said Faisal Farid Chaudhry, adding that Khan was upset that his sisters were not allowed to visit him.
“The legal committee and party leadership will write a letter to the Chief Justice,” he explained, referring to the ongoing legal challenges facing the PTI founder. “Our cases are not being heard in court, and Bushra Bibi is being abused.”
Faisal Farid Chaudhry confirmed that political matters were discussed during the meeting, with the PTI founder emphasising that the country and the people needed the PTI and the establishment.
He also mentioned that the PTI founder had spoken about restrictions on meetings with political colleagues and family members.
Salman Akram Raja, speaking at the Gorakhpur checkpoint, criticised the continuing restrictions on meetings. “What will they achieve by this childish coercion?” he said.
“We were not allowed to meet for three weeks, and the constitution, law, and court are all on one side.”
Raja further added that it was crucial to question the discriminatory practices regarding meeting access.
Meanwhile, the sisters and cousins of the PTI founder left Adiala Jail without meeting him, despite waiting for over two hours.
Noreen Niazi, Khan’s sister, explained that the jail administration had assured them they would be allowed to meet, only to later inform them that the meeting time had expired.
Qasim Khan, another relative, stated that they had been told twice that the meeting would happen but were then denied access when the time ran out.
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