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Tag: PTI

  • Imran Khan accepts PM Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for dialogue

    Imran Khan accepts PM Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for dialogue

    The incarcerated former prime minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has reportedly agreed to initiate dialogue with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling coalition, following an offer of talks extended by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    According to The News on Thursday (today), Imran Khan has authorised PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan to represent the party in the talks. Gohar met Khan at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, on Monday.

    However, Imran Khan emphasised that the discussions should take place away from media attention to allow for more productive and meaningful outcomes.

    Citing PTI insiders, The News reported that the party will now formally approach the government to proceed with the dialogue, believing that previous negotiations failed under media scrutiny. PTI is therefore now pushing for a quieter, more focused strategy.

    The News, citing sources within PTI, further revealed that Imran Khan wants the negotiations to have the backing of the military establishment. One source added that Khan is even open to meeting a representative of the establishment to help move the process forward.

    Barrister Gohar confirmed to The News that he had conveyed PM Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to Imran Khan. However, he declined to share the details of their discussion or the direction Khan had taken. “I can’t divulge what was discussed between us,” the PTI chairman said.

    This positive development followed PM Shehbaz Sharif’s recent speech in the National Assembly, where he invited PTI to join a national dialogue. While Barrister Gohar welcomed the proposal at the time, party circles made it clear that no progress could be made without Khan’s explicit consent.

  • Minerals bill: Aleema speaks out for brother Imran Khan amid rifts in PTI

    Minerals bill: Aleema speaks out for brother Imran Khan amid rifts in PTI

    Amid repeated reports of rifts within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Aleema Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has broken silence on the division over the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act, urging that all critical decisions regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) should be put on hold till her brother was released.

    Political parties in KP, including the ruling PTI, have expressed their concerns over and protested to the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act, which they say against the interests of the people of KP.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Aleema requested party members to show solidarity with Khan, stressing that her brother’s imprisonment should not be normalised.

    Maintaining that her brother had been “illegally” imprisoned for nearly two years now, Aleema said, “He [Khan] has been deprived of his two fundamental (and legal) demands: his books and weekly phone calls with his sons.”

    She further claimed that Khan’s access to his party members had been blocked for the past 5 months. “The lists for lawyers, party members and family are submitted to jail authorities as per orders of the chief justice of [the] Islamabad High Court and his three-member bench. The jail authorities seem to be under no obligation to comply with court orders.”

    Aleema also said that anyone who was not on the list Khan had approved should not go visit him at Adiala Jail.

    The post came days after a heated war of words reportedly took place between KP Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI Peshawar Region President Atif Khan in the PTI parliamentarians’ WhatsApp group over the minerals bill.

    Media reports claim that the disagreement began when Atif Khan advised PTI Member Provincial Assembly (MPAs) in the group to not vote in favour of the bill, declaring the bill “against the interests of the people of KP.”

    In response, Gandapur directly addressed Atif, asking, “Have you even read the bill? If you do not understand English, I will send you a copy in the Urdu version.”

    Earlier, CM Gandapur, in his video statement, also categorically dismissed the claims that the amendments in the bill were meant for surrendering the provincial authority to another entity.

    “The powers of the province cannot and will not be surrendered,” he said, adding that such claims were false, fabricated and “appeared to be driven by personal vendettas”.

    The KP CM further said that the proposed amendments were part of his government’s broader reform agenda aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in the minerals sector. “Vested interests are misrepresenting these reforms for their own benefit,” he added.

  • Journalist claims Azam Swati urged Imran Khan to allow dialogue ’15-20 times’

    Journalist claims Azam Swati urged Imran Khan to allow dialogue ’15-20 times’

    Journalist Fahad Shehbaz Khan claimed on Monday that senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati, during his visit to Adiala Jail on Eid day, asked former Prime Minister Imran Khan 15-20 times to give him permission for dialogue with the establishment.

    In a video statement, the journalist said that in the 30-minute meeting, Swati emphasized that the path of reconciliation must be followed.

    Fahad further claimed that Swati, while listing his sacrifices to Imran Khan, said that he personally bore the expenses of 1,100 prisoners — from cigarettes to food. “I treated the imprisoned boys in jails like my own sons,” the journalist quoted Swati as saying.

    Fahad stated that Swati complained to Imran Khan that the latter had awarded party posts to an individual who used to refer to him and his father with derogatory names. “There was also one personality present in the conference room meeting at Adiala Jail along with Swati. On every concern that Swati raised, Imran Khan told the individual what to do,” said the journalist.

    Touching upon the 26th Constitutional Amendment and the February 8 general election, Imran Khan said that he knows the incumbent government better than Swati, said the journalist, adding that Imran Khan informed the leader that the government would use delaying tactics [regarding dialogue].

    “Even in the final moments, when Azam Swati was leaving the meeting, he was saying to Imran Khan, ‘Give me permission for negotiations,’ to which Imran Khan replied, ‘You’ve already tried twice before,’” said the journalist.

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan confirmed that he instructed Swati to initiate dialogue with the military establishment, The News reported on Wednesday (today).

    On Tuesday, while speaking to party leaders and lawyers during a meeting at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, the former premier emphasised that the outreach was not related to his legal cases but was done solely for the sake of Pakistan.

    As per the report, Imran Khan told his visitors that he has never closed the door on dialogue with the establishment. However, he clarified that his party had ceased talks with the current government, which he described as lacking any real authority.

    PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senator Ali Zafar and lawyers Zaheer Abbas, Mubashar Awan, and Ali Imran were the visitors at Adiala Jail yesterday. However, Aleema Khan, along with his sisters, was barred from meeting her brother in jail.

    In response to Swati’s recent video statement, Imran Khan was quoted as saying, “This is about Pakistan, democracy, the rule of law, and respecting the people’s mandate.”

    Swati, in a video statement, had earlier revealed that the party founder had directed him to engage with the establishment while keeping the nature of the discussions confidential.

  • PTI leader meets jailed Imran Khan on Eid, asks for ticket in return for all ‘sacrifices’

    PTI leader meets jailed Imran Khan on Eid, asks for ticket in return for all ‘sacrifices’

    YouTuber Siddique Jan has claimed that a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader on Eid visited incarcerated party founder Imran Khan in jail and demanded that they be awarded a ticket for having made “several sacrifices”.

    In a recent interview, Jan said the party leader told Khan he wanted to contest elections under the PTI’s banner and also requested the former premier to allot him a constituency.

    “Khan Sahib, I have made several sacrifices for the party… I deserve identity and recognition,” the YouTuber, without revealing any names, quoted the party member as saying to Khan at Adiala Jail on the second day of Eid.

    While he did not reveal any names, Jan clarified the leader in question was not Azam Khan Swati. When pressed by the host to name the PTI member, the YouTube told him to “check the list of visitors”.

    During the interview, Jan also declared a recent tweet by absconding PTI leader and former federal minister Murad Saeed “a complete roadmap for Imran Khan’s release”.

    He went on to question how many from among the party’s incumbent leadership had expressed support for the plan.

    “PTI’s founder and chairman, Imran Khan, had announced the next phase of the movement after Eid. The youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who stayed at the Bani Gala and Zaman Park camps for a year and cleared the way for caravans during every major activity—braving all kinds of oppression and fascism—will, God willing, be honored at the Janisaran-e-Imran Khan Convention on April 7,” Saeed had tweeted on April 3.

    The former minister had further claimed that on April 11, he would speak in detail at the grand jirga of his constituency on a two-point agenda: the release of Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi, and other leadership and workers besides the restoration of peace.

    “The way Punjab came out on March 23 clearly shows that the workers in Punjab are prepared, and the way women are actively leading the movement is exemplary and a source of pride. Youth from North Punjab have been advised to continue the series of flash protests while staying focused on preparing for the next phase of the movement. A detailed action plan, which was to be shared with the youth of North Punjab on Friday as per the scheduled program, could not be shared—but God willing, progress on that will also follow soon,” he had added.

  • Imran Khan agrees to ‘negotiating with establishment’: report

    Imran Khan agrees to ‘negotiating with establishment’: report

    Jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan has agreed to “negotiating with the establishment”, and in this regard, assigned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur as well as KP government adviser Barrister Saif the responsibility of seeing it through.

    Reports quoted sources as saying that the development came after CM Gandapur and Saif convinced the incarcerated leader to engage in talks with the establishment, and the potential negotiations would remain confidential until any progress was made. A second meeting between Khan and Gandapur is expected in the coming days.

    It may be noted that the claims come a day after the KP chief executive, who was earlier reported to be the messenger between the jailed ex-PM and establishment, met Khan at Adiala Jail on Wednesday after over a month. The meeting continued for two and a half hours as the two leaders discussed institutional confrontations and criticism of party leadership on social media. CM Gandapur also briefed Khan on provincial matters.

    Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has dismissed reports about the meeting, saying that false claims were being circulated. “No one went to convince the PTI founder to negotiate,” he told a private media outlet, rubbishing claims that Khan had tasked anyone with talks.

    He condemned efforts to twist facts for the government’s benefit and clarified that Khan’s discussion with Gandapur revolved around provincial government and party-related matters.

    “Gandapur will present Khan’s directives before the party’s political committee,” Akram added.

    Days earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had also dismissed speculations about a deal with the establishment, clarifying that the party had “simply reestablished contacts”.

    It is pertinent to note that this isn’t the first time PTI-establishment talks have been reported, as they were also speculated in January following a meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and top PTI leadership.

    Said reports have repeatedly drawn mixed reactions from party workers and the general public alike over confusion within PTI quarters over its policy towards the government amid rhetoric hitting out at state institutions.

    The divide has also repeatedly been highlighted by political analysts, who maintain that the contradictory statements by different leaders of the troubled party only further tarnish its image following a countrywide crackdown rooted in “politics of agitation”.

    The PTI, on the other hand, continues to plead innocence. It also says that jailed Khan has the final say on all party-related matters.

  • PTI to hold rally in solidarity with Pakistan army

    PTI to hold rally in solidarity with Pakistan army

    Days after security forces successfully carried out a rescue operation after last week’s Jaffar Express hijacking in the Bolan district of Balochistan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will hold a rally to express solidarity with martyred Pakistan army personnel and victims of the train attack, a leading English Newspaper reported on Sunday.

    In a video statement, PTI Punjab’s Vice President Akmal Khan Bari, while condemning the attack, called it “an extreme act of brutality.” He added, “This was an attack on Pakistan, and we will never forget it.”

    As per the media report, the rally is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, and will begin at the General Post Office (GPO) Chowk in Lahore and conclude at the Punjab Assembly.

    PTI’s Punjab Vice President said, “We urge the Punjab government not to create any obstacles. This will be a peaceful rally to honour the martyrs of the Jaffer Express tragedy and the brave soldiers who lost their lives.”

    Furthermore, he called on PTI workers, lawyers, and civil society members to join in great numbers.

    The party believes that a strong turnout will send a clear message of unity and support for the nation’s armed forces. “This is not just about PTI. It’s about Pakistan and its people standing together,” Bari said.

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry last week announced that the Bolan Green rescue operation was successfully completed after nearly 30 hours as all attackers were eliminated and hostages freed.

     
    Speaking to a private news channel, Chaudhry confirmed that the complex operation had been completed by units from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Special Services Group (SSG), army and Frontier Corps (FC).

     
    He said that all 33 terrorists had been killed while confirming that no passenger was harmed during the clearance operation. However, he added that before the clearance operation, 21 passengers were martyred by the terrorists.


    At least four FC soldiers were also martyred during an exchange of fire, he said.


    The attack, the most brazen one carried out by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) to date, began on Tuesday afternoon when terrorists attacked the train near the Mashkaf tunnel, about 150 kilometres out of Quetta, taking hostage all 400 passengers on board. 

    Meanwhile, on Sunday, a security forces convoy in Nushki district of Balochistan came under attack when a vehicle-borne suicide bomber attacked it, leaving three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers and two civilians martyred, said the ISPR.

    “In the ensuing sanitisation operation, the terrorists were pursued, and after [an] intense fire exchange, three terrorists were effectively neutralised by the security forces,” said the military media wing.

    Read More: Pakistan accuses India of involvement in Jaffar Express attack

  • PTI leaders to complain to Imran Khan against misuse of party’s social media for anti-army statements

    PTI leaders to complain to Imran Khan against misuse of party’s social media for anti-army statements

    The political committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to take up the issue of the party’s official social media accounts being used irresponsibly against army and national interests with its incarcerated founder Imran Khan, The News reported on Saturday.

    As per the report, the opposition party’s top brass, including Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, party Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Opposition leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz, KP party president Junaid Akbar, ex-PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, former speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Amir Dogar and Hafiz Farhat attended a meeting of the political committee meeting which held in KP House, Islamabad.

    During the meeting, concerns were raised over aggressive and unregulated content posted on PTI’s official social media platforms.

    It was decided that senior party leaders, in their forthcoming visit to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, will urge Imran Khan to implement oversight mechanisms to prevent the misuse of these platforms, including those directly associated with him.

    As per insiders, top leaders will advise the founder of PTI to establish a committee comprising key PTI leaders to vet all content before it is posted on the party’s official accounts, including “X” (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. The main objective of this proposal is to curb the influence of overseas individuals who are allegedly using these accounts for anti-military campaigns and posts that could harm Pakistan’s interests.

    One senior party source stated that nearly all top party leaders agreed that stricter controls are necessary.

    PTI’s senior leadership has no control over the party’s social media apparatus, which is reportedly managed from overseas. Even Barrister Gohar, Salman Akram Raja, and Shiekh Waqas Akram have no influence over the content being posted. Efforts to engage PTI’s US chapter to curb controversial narratives have reportedly been ignored in the past.

    The News further reported that psrty leaders complain that their statements and press conferences are ignored by PTI’s official accounts, which instead focus on the posts and statements of some YouTubers living abroad.

    Such is the pressure from PTI’s social media and select diaspora groups that party leaders hesitate to contradict propaganda, even when it is false or exaggerated. Many believe that only Imran Khan can bring the party’s digital platforms under structured editorial control. 

    However, past attempts to convince the jailed party founder have been unsuccessful, as he has consistently praised and endorsed the content disseminated by PTI’s official social media accounts.

  • Sheikh Waqas Akram sends Rs1 billion legal notice to Fawad Chaudhry

    Sheikh Waqas Akram sends Rs1 billion legal notice to Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has served a legal notice of one billion rupees in defamation to former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry over false, frivolous and derogatory statements.

    PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle posted the notice on Monday. The notice demands that the former federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry issue a public apology within 14 days. Failure to do so will result in legal action being initiated against him.

    In February 2025, Chaudhry launched a scathing attack against PTI leaders, including Raoof Hassan and Akram, after the party issued a statement condemning his violent altercation with lawyer Shoaib Shaheen outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on February 15.

    Chaudhry wrote that Akram started his career as a courier. “Now, he is enjoying luxury at the expense of PTI’s funding and the provincial budget,” Chaudhry alleged in a post on X.

    He went on to write a series of allegations against PTI’s political committee, saying that it was involved in the embezzlement of public funds. 

    “The majority of members in PTI’s political committee […] have embezzled millions in party funds. They refuse to be held accountable for funds collected in the name of Imran Khan [PTI founder] and party workers,” Chaudhry alleged.

    According to the notice, Chaudhry used his official social media accounts, including X and various YouTube channels, to level unfounded allegations against Akram. Chaudhry’s statements accused Akram of conspiring against PTI, causing political harm, and being involved in corruption worth billions.

    The notice claims that former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry made false, baseless, and defamatory statements that were broadcasted on media against Akram, damaging the latter’s political reputation and affecting his public standing.

    “That pursuant to your insinuating and insulting statements on media, the fame and reputation of my client in the eyes of family members, friends, colleagues, politicians, political workers, members of PTI, acquaintances, and general public nationally and internationally has been tarnished smeared and sullied. You deliberately and willfully tried to impair the reputable image of my client for undue gains without any cogent, convincing and strong evidence of the alleged defamatory and derogatory statements published/posted on media,” the notice read.

    “….Your (Fawad Chaudhry’s) false and defamatory statements were also published in all print media, including the Current, Dawn, ARY News (website), the Urdu Point, AAJ News, Nawaiwaqt and a number of other newspapers,” the notice further noted.

    As per the notice, failure to tender an unconditional apology to Akram or inability to pay one billion rupees as damages within the stipulated time, the PTI Central Information Secretary would be at liberty to initiate legal proceedings against Chaudhry.

  • ‘Well-known property tycoon’ tells Imran Khan to trust Mohsin Naqvi: report

    ‘Well-known property tycoon’ tells Imran Khan to trust Mohsin Naqvi: report

    A well-known property tycoon, currently residing outside Pakistan, has reportedly sent a message to incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, urging him to place his trust in Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, The News reported on Wednesday, without naming the tycoon.

    According to the news report, the message has been relayed to former premier Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, where both are incarcerated.

    Despite Imran Khan and the former First Lady being aware that the Interior Minister has been facilitating PTI leaders behind the scenes, Imran Khan has repeatedly voiced criticism against Naqvi.

    He previously expressed anger over the recent cordial meeting between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and the Interior Minister in Peshawar.

    In December 2024, following deadly clashes between warring tribes in the Kurram district, Gandapur held a meeting with the Interior Minister in Peshawar. The discussion focused on the law and order situation in KP, with an emphasis on restoring peace in Kurram.

    During the meeting at the CM’s office, Mohsin Naqvi assured full cooperation in improving security across the province. He pledged support to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies in KP.

    PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and CM KP, who have been engaged in backdoor talks in recent months, are also aware of Naqvi’s role in assisting PTI leaders, The News claimed.

    News reports claim that despite being informed about Naqvi’s positive contributions, Khan was apparently unwilling to reconsider his stance.

    Imran Khan has been vocal in criticising Naqvi since his appointment as Punjab’s caretaker CM, accusing him of bias and political favouritism. Khan also opposed Naqvi’s appointment as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    Following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 Cricket World Cup in June 2024, Naqvi hinted at major changes in the national team.

    In response, Khan called for action against him, claiming Naqvi was benefiting from favouritism.

    Additionally, after India defeated Pakistan on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Champions Trophy group stage — hosted Pakistan — Imran Khan blamed Naqvi for the cricket team’s downfall.

    Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail last month, Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, reportedly quoted her brother as saying that appointing individuals based on recommendations instead of merit would lead to the downfall of cricket in the country.

    Aleema Khan added that Imran Khan had also pointed out Naqvi’s extensive hold on key positions, saying, “No one in Pakistan holds as many positions as Mohsin Naqvi does.”

    According to news reports, she further stated that Khan remarked that under such poor leadership, a respectable person would have resigned by now, but the Interior Minister had not done so.

  • PTI slashes staff salaries by 50 percent amid ‘financial troubles’

    PTI slashes staff salaries by 50 percent amid ‘financial troubles’

    A financial crunch has led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to inform its staff that they will have to face a 50 per cent cut in their salaries, after their pays were delayed for many months, a leading English newspaper reported on Friday.

    Ex-PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had made similar claims on X (formerly Twitter) two weeks ago, stating in a post, “The majority of members in PTI’s political committee […] have embezzled millions in party funds. They refuse to be held accountable for funds collected in the name of Imran Khan [PTI founder] and party workers.”

    He stressed, “Accountability for funding is crucial because PTI’s media department has not received salaries for the past four months, and the cleaning staff has been laid off. Meanwhile, people like Raoof Hassan are getting a hike in salary.”

    A staffer revealed to Dawn News that 25 to 28 paid staffers of PTI hired for accounts, offices, and the media wing of the former ruling party are getting salaries ranging from Rs35,000 to Rs200,000.

    Revealing that the overall expenditure of secretariats in Islamabad and Lahore and salaries of paid staff is around Rs4 million per month, the staffer said, “After the raid in July last year at the PTI secretariat, a number of staffers were arrested […] Later, when we were released and started working, our salaries could not be released for many months.”

    He said, “In October 2024, we were informed by the high-ups that the party does not have funds to pay bills of the chairman’s office in Banigala, so the amount of bills will be deducted from the salaries of staff to avoid disconnection of utility services.” 

    “While the salary of almost five months is pending, we have been informed that the salaries will be slashed by 50 percent from November. It is unfortunate that parliamentarians, belonging to the PTI, have increased their salaries, but they are least bothered regarding staff and their families.”

    Meanwhile, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akam said that he cared a lot about the party employees and penned a note opposing the proposal to cut their salaries by 50 per cent.

    Akram claimed that despite the fact that Imran Khan had earlier directed all the ticket holders of provincial and national assemblies to deposit Rs240,000 at once [for a year] or in two instalments, there were financial issues.

    Declaring the suggestion regarding the salary slash from the back date ‘unfair’, he said, “I hope that the situation will improve in the coming days and staffers will be paid. The party really cares about their families.”