Several PTI leaders turned away from Adiala Jail

Leaders prevented from consulting PTI founder on ‘unfolding political developments’

RAWALPINDI:

Several leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, including those elected in the February 8 general elections, were turned away by the Adiala Jail as they reached there for a meeting with the party founder Imran Khan, on Thursday.

These leaders said that they had a court order for the meeting with Imran to discuss the prevailing situation and unfolding political developments in the country, but the jail administration declined to obey the court orders.

The jail authorities allowed only five PTI leaders to meet with Imran—Barrister Ali Zafar, Barrister Umair Niazi, Ali Bukhari, Shadab Jafari, and Ahmed Owais Advocate, while the others were denied permission for the meeting.

Those who were not allowed to meet Imran, included Acting PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Chief Organiser Omar Ayub, former speaker Asad Qaiser, former Azad Kashmir prime minister Sardar Qayyum Niazi, besides Atif Khan, Shahram Tarakai, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Seembia Tahir.

Speaking to the media outside the jail, Asad Qaiser, former speaker of the National Assembly, said that despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders, the jail administration did not allow them to meet with the party founder.

“Major developments are taking place in the country. Therefore, it is necessary for the senior leadership of the party to consult the PTI founder. The people have given a big mandate to the PTI founder,” Qaiser told reporters.

“Governments are being formed at the Centre and in Punjab. What will be the credibility of these governments that insult the opinions of the people. We want the rule of law and the Constitution in the country,” the former speaker added. He also said he would meet the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Ayub, who was not allowed to meet the PTI founder, told the media that he had brought the court order for the meeting, but the jail administration refused to obey it. “Imran Khan has nominated me for the premiership, should we go to the international court to meet with our leader?” he added.

The PTI acting secretary general said that meeting with their party founder was their legal right, which was being denied to them. He asked what Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, inspector general (IG) of Punjab police, and the IG Jails were afraid of.

On the occasion, PTI leader Barrister Umair Niazi said that the political atmosphere was being vitiated by not allowing their meeting with Imran. To a question, he said that the Punjab Assembly session was being called in haste, adding that a government with stolen mandate would not be acceptable.