RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has asked party leaders to resign from all parliamentary committees.
He has also directed party Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and General Secretary Salman Akram Raja regarding the upcoming by-elections, saying that the party should not participate as doing so would legitimise the polls.
This was said by Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan while talking to reporters outside Adiala Jail after meeting her brother along with her sisters and party leaders.
She said that the PTI founder’s clear stance was not to legitimise the by-elections, but if anyone in the party held a different view, it would be taken into consideration.
She quoted Imran Khan as saying that nothing would be achieved by keeping him in solitary confinement and through intimidation. She said that he (Iran Khan) will neither bow down nor strike any deal.
Aleema Khan said their family was grateful to the workers who stood by them for months. “For the past three months we were not allowed to meet him. Today, after four months, we all sisters were allowed to meet together. His lawyers Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Gohar and Ali Zafar also met him,” she said.
She said that Imran Khan’s health was generally fine, though he had an eye problem for which they were filing a request in court. She said doctors from PIMS hospital would come for his examination.
Quoting the PTI founder, she said, “If judges had a conscience, such injustice would not be happening.”
She said that Imran had been informed about the arrests of her sons Sher Shah and Shahrez Azim, and he held the judiciary responsible for the injustices.
Imran Khan said the punishments and disqualifications handed to him and other party leaders and workers were unprecedented in Pakistan.
He accused (Interior Minister) Mohsin Naqvi of destroying cricket. He said the media had been strangled into submission, and mainstream media had lost credibility among the public.
She quoted the PTI founder further saying that no military operation should have been launched in Waziristan as it would create instability.
He opposed the expulsion of Afghan refugees, saying it was against Islamic values and admitted he felt ashamed over their forced repatriation.
Imran Khan also expressed grief over the devastation caused by floods in Buner and other areas, adding that the importance of the ten billion tree project should now be clear to the people.
Aleem Khan said that Imran Khan had rejected Salman Akram Raja’s resignation and had instructed the political committee to meet again today to discuss the matter. She said the final decision would be taken after party consultation.
She added that Bushra Bibi was in good health and that the atmosphere in court today had been positive.