Tag: Imran Khan

Journalist Muhammad Malick claimed on Thursday that former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan gave a tough time to different leaders of his party during a meeting at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Malick said on his talk show programme KHABAR that former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi bluntly told Imran Khan, “You have appointed jokers to key positions.” 

Imran Khan met with Senator Shibli Faraz, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former party member Fawad Chaudhry, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and lawyer Salman Akram Raja at the jail. The meeting was two hours long, said the journalist.

“Instead of initiating agitation after the February 8 general election, you [the party leadership] confined yourself to your home, [….] why did you retreat from D Chowk last month,” Malick quoted Imran Khan as saying.

Former Foreign Minister Qureshi advised the party to move towards dialogue instead of confrontation, making the case for giving a chance to negotiations and  resolving problems through understanding. If the government is serious about dialogue, they should initiate talks, stated the journalist.

Qureshi called out party leadership by saying that he has “40 years of experience in politics” and that party leaders must consult him before making a political decision.

Sources told Express Tribune that Khan was skeptical about the talks, but Gandapur remained optimistic during their meeting. 

“Wait until Saturday; if the government tries to convince PTI, then move ahead. Otherwise, go for the civil disobedience call,” sources quoted the PTI founder as saying. 

The jailed head of the PTI posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday emphasised that two of his demands, including the formation of a judicial commission comprising the three most senior judges, must be established to probe the May 9 and November 26 events and the release of political prisoners must be met.

“If the government does not act on them by Sunday, the first phase of the civil disobedience movement, a remittance boycott, will begin,” he warned.

The former Premier clarified to the government that the move to defer the civil disobedience movement was made on the broader national interest. “If the government is not interested [for dialogue], we are not holding a gun to their head. Our offer for dialogue should not be deemed as a sign of weakness,” he said.

Additionally, Malick claimed that Imran Khan believed that the administration of the newly elected President of the United States (US), Donald J. Trump would be involved in securing his release.

Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Thursday spoke about the alleged brutalities by the state on demonstrators during his party’s protests last month in the federal capital. PTI has alleged that  12 people were killed in the clashes. 

The former Prime Minister posted a message on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that after hearing the news of the firing on protestors on November 24, he “could not sleep despite taking sleeping pills” due to the anguish caused by the violence against unarmed citizens.

Declaring November 26 a black day in the history of Pakistan, Imran Khan alleged that snipers opened fire on unarmed people, injuring and killing young individuals.

“Several people have been missing for three weeks now. It is the government’s responsibility to locate the missing individuals. The government must answer where these people have gone. Our people have made sacrifices for democracy. I direct my parliamentary party, including Barrister Gohar [party chairman], to raise their voices in the assembly for these missing persons. It is unacceptable for the parliament to function as normal while blood is being spilled in the country,” he said.

Asserting that PTI demonstrators were peaceful during last month’s long march, Khan said that no other political party in the country was subjected to such treatment. “As long as I live, I will ensure that November 26 is never forgotten,” he added.

The former Premier clarified to the government that the move to defer the civil disobedience movement was made on the broader national interest. “If the government is not interested [for dialogue], we are not holding a gun to their head. Our offer for dialogue should not be deemed as a sign of weakness,” he said.

The jailed head of the PTI declared two of his demands, including the formation of a judicial commission comprising the three most senior judges, must be established to probe the May 9 and November 26 events and the release of political prisoners. 

“If the government does not act on them by Sunday, the first phase of the civil disobedience movement, a remittance boycott, will begin,” he warned. 

The head of the biggest opposition party alleged, “The incumbent government was not formed by the people’s votes but through a conspiracy. General Bajwa conspired against our elected government, causing a loss of $42 billion to Pakistan.”

Imran Khan wrote that the country’s economy is in shambles, and the business class and investors are transferring their capital abroad.

Political analyst Nusrat Javed on Monday revealed that former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan called leaders of his party “cowards” three times during his interaction with party members at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Appearing on Public TV’s Khabar Nashar, Javed said that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, stayed firm on his call for a civil disobedience movement. “I have a strategy. Civil disobedience movement will be successful, but they [the party leadership] are cowards,” Javed quoted imprisoned Imran Khan as saying. 

The veteran journalist stated that former Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi complained to Imran Khan about the behaviour of party members for not showing moral support to incarcerated leaders, including Yasmin Rashid, who has been jailed for more than a year.

“PTI leadership never visited jailed party leaders, including Omar Sarfraz Cheema [former Punjab Governor], and they had never appeared at their hearings,” the former foreign minister complained to Imran Khan.

Imran agreed with Shah Mahmood Qureshi and called party leadership “cowards” again, Nusrat Javed claimed. 

Javed further claimed that former Premier Imran Khan spent a lot of time with former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry during a meeting in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

Faisal Chaudhry, counsel for Imran Khan, while appearing on ARY News programme KHABAR on Monday, confirmed that Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a long conversation with the party founder in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

On being asked about the civil disobedience movement, Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would announce the next action plan in the coming days.

Last week Imran Khan warned the government on X (formerly Twitter) that his party will begin a civil disobedience movement if two demands, including the formation of a judicial commission for a transparent investigation of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of under-trial political prisoners are not met.

 
“If these two demands are not accepted, a civil disobedience movement will be launched from December 14,” the founder of the former ruling party warned, adding that the government would be responsible for the results of the movement.

US President-elect Donald Trump’s recent nominee for Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, Richard Grenell, tagged a Geo News Story on X (formerly Twitter) that referred to him as “homosexual” and called for the release of founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan.

On December 16, Richard Grenell posted a screenshot of a Geo News Urdu article with a headline translated in English as “Homosexual Richard Grenell appointed as Trump’s envoy” with a caption: “I’ll say it again, @geonews_urdu: Free Imran Khan.”

Expectedly, the post went viral, with most PTI supporters and leaders appreciating the US official for raising his voice in support of the former Prime Minister.

Former US congressman Matt Gaetz also reposted Grenell’s post with the caption: “Free Imran Khan!”

Grenell previously served as ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first administration, special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, and acting director of national intelligence.

National Public Radio (NPR) reported Grenell for having a reputation of “sometimes employing a contentious approach to diplomacy that rankled allies and the foreign policy establishment in Washington.”

Richard Grenell had previously voiced his support for Imran Khan on his official X page, and when he got nominated by Donald Trump, PTI supporters rejoiced on social media, congratulating him on his new title.

Social media did not hold back after Grenell’s recent post with one user commenting: “Respected Sir Heartiest Congratulations on your new assignment. May you get succeed and achieve your goals & aims Ameen. Imran Khan is our Leader and he is in Adyalla Jail for the last 18 months in fake frivolous cases like @realDonaldTrump. Thank you so much for raising voice for IK [sic].”

While netizens speculate the reason why Richard’s tweet was specifically aimed at Geo News, PTI leader Azhar Mashwani, who is in self-imposed exile, alleged, “@geonews_urdu is Pakistan’s largest traditional news network, fully allied to the brutal regime in the country.”

“Interestingly, many of these traditional media outlets in the country were recipients of substantial USAID media-buying funds between 2008 and 2014 under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act. Even more interesting is that the KLB Act was the brainchild of then-Senator Joe Biden, who became Vice President shortly before the bill was passed. For those that think Biden (and his admin) were agnostic on Pakistan, there is ample evidence of his clear political preferences in the country. Past 3 years is a testament to it [sic],” he added.

Another PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari reposted with the caption: “250 million people chant the same. Free Imran Khan!”

Former President Arif Alvi wrote: “A very positive statement. The same feelings are resonating throughout the world. #Free_Imran_Khan. @ImranKhanPTI has spent more than 500 days in jail on false, fabricated & fictitious charges starting with the ignominious regime change, destruction of civil liberties, mandate reversal, fascist torture & subversion of constitution & judiciary by the deep state in Pakistan.”

Senator Faisal Vawda on Thursday claimed that close aides of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan were involved in the attack that left him shot in the leg during a rally at Wazirabad in 2022. 

Appearing on Hum News’ FAISLA AAP KA with Asma Shirazi, Vawda said, “When Imran Khan finds out that his trusted people were involved in the attack on him, it will shake the ground beneath his feet.”

He dismissed social media claims that Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was aware of the Wazirabad attack, stating, “If someone says that Imran Khan was mindful of the incident, then he is an idiot.”

The Senator also discussed journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder, emphasising that the verdict in the case would be the last nail in the coffin, adding, “If the courts do not reveal the details of the cases, then I will speak up.”

Former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, who was present in the panel along with Vawda, stated that revealing details of the Wazirabad attack on Imran Khan would be beneficial.

Faisal Vawda chimed in, “You should also find out who the beneficiaries of the firing were; then you will know the whole story.”

On November 3, 2022, Imran Khan, along with other party leaders, was injured, and one party worker was killed when a gunman opened fire on the party founder’s container as the convoy reached Wazirabad’s Allah Wala Chowk.

According to the Punjab police, the deceased was identified as Muazzam Nawaz.

Fawad Chaudhry, who was also present in the convoy, told Reuters hours after the incident, “It was a clear assassination attempt. Khan was hit, but he’s stable. There was a lot of bleeding. If the shooter had not been stopped by people there, the entire PTI leadership would have been wiped out.”

PTI leaders Ahmed Chattha and Chaudhry Yousuf along with party workers Omer Meyer and Rashid were wounded in the incident, PTI social media had claimed.

Following the firing, Imran Khan was immediately shifted to Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, while the rest of the injured people were taken by ambulances to the nearby Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, Reuters reported.

Four days after the attack occurred, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at the City Police Station in Wazirabad with sub-inspector Aamir Shahzad as the complainant.

The FIR was registered under various charges, including terrorism, murder and attempt to murder, with sections 302, 324, 440 and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 included. 

According to the FIR text, Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were headed to Wazirabad from Allahwala Chowk when, at 4 pm, the accused, Naveed, opened fire from the left side of the container, killing Muazzam, son of Nawaz of Bharoki Cheema, who was a participant in the rally.

Senator Talal Badar Chaudhry on Thursday lashed out at former Premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter’s campaign to boycott military-made products.

“The biggest fauji [army] product was founder PTI [Imran Khan] himself,” said Talal Chaudhry while addressing the 344th session of the Senate.

The Senator highlighted the aggressive approach of Imran Khan’s party, saying that it had been 28 years since the party formed yet they never “talked about reconciliation.”

“When Nawaz Sharif [three times Prime Minister] was in jail, they [PTI] used to do politics over Nawaz Sharif’s illness and had also used it for bargaining.” 

Talal criticised the former ruling party’s sudden wish to begin a dialogue with the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led government, claiming that PTI was demanding the negotiation to “save Faiz Hamid [ex-spymaster]” from an ongoing military trial.

Former Director General (DG) of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hamid was formally charged with engaging in political activities and misusing his authority as the chief of the country’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the former spymaster was also charged with violating the Official Secrets Act, misusing authority and government resources, and causing wrongful losses to individuals.

“These actions have compromised state security and interests,” ISPR added.

As per the statement, the process of Hamid’s field general court-martial (FGCM) was initiated on August 12 under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

On Thursday, recalling the PTI leadership’s reported past claims of not holding dialogue with the mandate-stolen government but with the establishment, Chaudhry criticised PTI’s leadership’s sudden tilt to have a dialogue with the government and asked, “Are we no more thieves? Whenever the PML-N-led central government offered negotiation in the past, it was considered a weakness, he said.

Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with the Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan” Friday, advisor to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah revealed that the former ruling party had not approached the government yet to initiate the process of dialogue despite the rival party’s claims of having formed a negotiations committee.

Recently, jailed Imran Khan-founded party established a five-member negotiation committee comprising Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza, lawyer Salman Akram Raja and former Speaker NA Asad Qaiser.

Rana Sanaullah assured that his party (PML-N) would not turn down any message for negotiation from PTI, noting, “If PTI reaches out, we will not refuse to engage.”

Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, speaking to journalists at Adiala Jail, expressed his “disappointment” with the current party leadership over their “lack of action on the D-Chowk incident,” Geo News reported on Thursday.

Correspondent Shabbir Dar reported that Khan raised serious concerns about the political environment outside the prison.

“When I read the newspapers, I got the impression that there was a friendly atmosphere outside the prison, and everyone was living happily,” said the former Prime Minister.

“I expected the D-Chowk issue to be raised vigorously in Parliament and other forums, but to my surprise, that didn’t happen,” he added, expressing shock at the party leadership’s response.

He voiced his grievance, saying, “When I am cleared of one case, a new one is initiated against me. PTI should have shown a stronger reaction to this.”

PTI conducted an unsuccessful march towards Islamabad following Khan’s “final call” on November 24, which led to multiple fatalities, including security officials and protesters.

When the protesters reached their destination at D-Chowk, no party leader was visible at the site. Meanwhile, when the government launched a crackdown, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reportedly left Islamabad in the early hours of November 27.

Imran Khan has since instructed his party leaders and supporters to initiate a “civil disobedience” movement starting December 14.

In a statement issued from his X account, Khan demanded the release of PTI workers and called for the formation of a five-member negotiation team.

The team aims to discuss two key demands with the government: the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of all under-trial PTI workers.

Khan outlined “two stages” for the proposed civil disobedience movement. In the first phase, he wrote, “We will appeal to overseas Pakistanis to limit remittances and initiate a boycott campaign. In the second phase, we will escalate further.”

This, however, is not Khan’s first call for a civil disobedience movement. In 2014, he made a similar announcement during a 126-day sit-in in Islamabad, even famously burning his electricity bill on stage as a symbolic gesture.

Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, while talking to journalists, explained the potential impact of a boycott by the Pakistani diaspora. She stated that Pakistan’s economic system “is actually sustained by the hard work of overseas Pakistanis.”