Imran rallies PTI, rejects terror path | The Express Tribune

RAWALPINDI:

Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Monday relayed fresh instructions from the party’s incarcerated founder Imran Khan, calling on the party to prepare for the next course of action, work for peace rather than terrorism, and denounced what he described as attempts to crush PTI and steal its mandate.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail following the Toshakhana-II case hearing and a meeting with Imran, Aleema Khan said she met her brother, who told her the party must get ready for the future. “He said we have to work for peace, not to increase terrorism.”

Aleema added that she had informed him about the September 27 rally. “I told him that on your call, people from all over Pakistan came out.” According to her, the PTI founder responded that “Mohsin Naqvi has destroyed cricket. Every team is good, but the decisions are wrong”.

She claimed Imran told her the FIA had confronted him about posts on his X account, saying, “They told me your handle posts anti-state things … why shouldn’t we proceed against you under PECA?”

Aleema quoted him as replying, “I represent 80% of the people. How can you stop a leader with such representation from speaking his mind?”

She added he stressed that dialogue, not conflict, was the way forward with Afghanistan. “PTI has been crushed, and our votes were stolen in the election. After the 26th Amendment, conscience-selling judges have been elevated.”

PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja told reporters that Imran had issued “important instructions” which he would share with the parliamentary party. He said the founder expressed dissatisfaction over arrangements at the Peshawar rally, particularly the choice of venue.

“He said dust was flying and arrangements were not proper. I will not say he was dissatisfied with the rally itself, but there were questions about arrangements,” Raja added.

He also referred to an incident where shoes were displayed at party leaders during the rally. “The founder said party officials must think whether to carry the public along or leave them behind,”

he quoted.

Raja clarified that Aleema Khan does not directly intervene in party affairs. “She only conveys the founder’s message to the public. The founder has given clear directions that the party must be run by its officials and leaders. His narrative is pro-state, not anti-state. I do not understand what so-called anti-state tweets are being referred to.”

On the PTI founder’s jail conditions, Raja said, “In the May 9 trials, cases are being conducted over WhatsApp. This negates constitutional and legal rights. The founder has said these WhatsApp trials must be strongly raised before the High Court. In these trials, he cannot talk to his lawyers or even see the witnesses. A phone is placed before him and proceedings start.”

He added that only four meetings with the founder had been possible due to court restrictions.

Separately, the PTI founder’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, expressed suspicion that the Al-Qadir Trust case would only be taken up after a verdict was handed down in Toshakhana-II. “Now it is not possible for the founder and Bushra Bibi to be imprisoned in the Cipher, Iddat, Toshakhana-I or Al-Qadir cases,” he said.

“Today is Monday, and at 8pm we came out of jail. Power went out in the courtroom, so the judge had to adjourn Toshakhana-II despite court timings being till 3pm. After 3:30pm, evidence will be recorded on the record.”