Hand over Imran to us, K-P tells Punjab

Saif says provincial govt shouldn’t make others suffer if it can’t provide ‘security’ to ex-PM

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa information adviser on Tuesday said if the Punjab government could not ensure the safety of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan -- who along with other prisoners at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail had been restrained from receiving visitors for two weeks over “security threats” -- then he should be handed over to his provincial set-up.

“Imran Khan should be handed over to the K-P government if Punjab cannot provide security to him,” CM’s information aide Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif demanded in a video message.

He further said the restrictions imposed on the basis of “security concerns” had created “difficulties” for all the prisoners.

“The Punjab government should not make the people suffer because of its ‘incompetence’ and ‘fear of Imran Khan’.”

The K-P CM’s adviser claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was busy in “photo shoots” instead of working in the province while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was engaged in “useless gossip” in parliament to gain the media’s attention.

“A ‘drama’ is being played in Punjab to hide the ‘incompetence’ of its government.”

Said was referring to Punjab CM’s recent visit to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail, where she had Iftar (broke her fast) with the female prisoners there.

The Punjab chief minister also visited the cell where her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, was imprisoned during his time in jail.

She inaugurated a dedicated 20-bed hospital for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and a video call facility for prisoners in Kot Lakhpat jail.

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In a post on social media platform X, Maryam shared that it was an emotional moment to see the cell of her father, a three-time former premier, was kept in.

“I was in the same jail but never allowed to visit him. Got to see it today,” she added.
On Saturday, K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met with the PTI founding chairman in Adiala Jail on being granted special permission by PM Shehbaz Sharif.

Following the meeting, Saif said in a statement that Gandapur took instructions from Imran on important political issues.

He said the chief minister discussed the party candidates for the Senate elections with Imran and received his consent

Imran instructed Gandapur to actively engage in discussions on federal platforms, including the Special Investment Facilitation Council, and to collaborate with security agencies to uphold K-P’s rights.

Last week, authorities at Adiala Jail allowed four PTI lawyers to meet with Imran in compliance with the Islamabad High Court orders.