ISLAMABAD: Amid murmurs of divisions within the PTI, not a single party leader arrived at Adiala jail on Thursday, one of two days on which former premier Imran Khan is allowed visitors.
The Islamabad High Court has allowed Imran twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite the order, the ex-premier has been largely restricted from meeting visitors for several months as the court’s directives have not been implemented.
On Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had sent a list of six leaders to the jail administration, as per the court orders, to meet Imran. PTI leaders Falak Naz Chitrali, Fazal Elahi, Ehtesham Khan, Sardar Ghulam Ali, Asghar Khan Lehri, Syed Naseebullah Agha and Chaudhry Javed Akhtar Gujjar were included in the list.
However, on Thursday, none of the party leaders managed to reach Adiala jail till 4pm, the cutoff time for meetings with inmates.
Speaking to Dawn, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said that the party had taken strict notice of the situation and would discuss the “unfortunate development” in a meeting with prominent leaders.
“There are thousands of leaders and workers who want to meet Imran. Many workers go to Adiala jail every week despite the fact that their names are not included in the list and they will not be allowed to meet Imran. We will make sure that those who cannot come to Adiala jail should not give their names [for meetings],” he said.
Akram asserted that the issue would be addressed and the party would take strict action over it.
Separately, PTI’s Lehri told Dawn that he was aware that his name was included in the list sent to the jail administration.
“I could not come as my daughter-in-law was admitted to the hospital in Lahore,” he said, adding that he had welcomed a grandchild.
“It was a matter of pride for me that my name was included in the list of people who had to meet Khan sahib. I have been in the party since 2011 and contested two elections,” he said.
Lehri said that Imran was the most popular leader in Pakistan and the party had a bright future.
The same situation had also occurred last week. The party’s secretary general had sent a list of party members to meet Imran, including the heavyweights Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Sardar Latif Khosa, Babar Awan, and Hamid Khan. But none showed up at Adiala jail.
On the other hand, Imran’s sisters have consistently shown up outside Adiala jail on Tuesdays in an effort to meet their brother, even as such meetings have not been allowed by authorities.
