Fawad Chaudhry says PTI leaders urging him not to criticise leadership

Former PTI stalwart advises party to protest in Senate, National Assembly instead of organising rallies

Fawad Chaudhry said on Wednesday that senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have reached out, requesting leniency, according to Express News.

During a conversation with journalists in the federal capital, Chaudhry verified that Asad Qaiser and Ali Amin Gandapur contacted him, requesting a softer approach towards the party leadership.

He stated that under the current circumstances, the PTI founder cannot come out in the next thirteen months. He added that upon his release from jail, his first conversation was with Asad Qaiser, recommending him to reach out to Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Chaudhry highlighted that PTI’s current strategy involves approaching the court through lawyers and fighting legally, which he believes will never allow the founder to be freed.

He stated that the current leadership should have protested on February 9, criticising Shibli Faraz for suggesting to raise the issue in Parliament instead.

Chaudhry questioned how they could fight in Parliament when they were not even allowed entry. He described protests as ineffective, citing examples of minimal participation.

Read: Fawad Chaudhry questions PTI leadership over Imran Khan's fate

The former party member asserted that Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami, PTI, and GDA need to unite. He detailed his comprehensive meeting with Hafiz Naeem, noting that all opposition parties want to unite.

He suggested offering JUI the positions of Speaker in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee while GDA should be given representation in Sindh.

The former minister noted that the current PTI leadership lacks political understanding, hence the absence of a political team. He warned that if the PTI founder loses this battle, the country will suffer greatly as he is fighting for its future.

Chaudhry remarked that those meeting the PTI founder are not in a position to provide any information. He acknowledged Faraz as a good friend but critiqued his political acumen. His interactions, he said, were mainly with political figures like Ali Amin Gandapur.

The former minister advised PTI to hold protest camps in the Senate and National Assembly instead of organising rallies, arguing that public demonstrations would result in the arrests and suffering of poor workers. He recalled how Benazir Bhutto had managed to challenge the government with just 17 people.

Also Read: No room for those who left during crisis: PTI

Chaudhry criticised the current leadership’s treatment of Sheikh Rasheed and the misinformation given to the PTI founder about him.

Reflecting on past sacrifices, he noted that during difficult times, individuals like Faraz and Rauf Hassan stayed home. He pointed out that Barrister Gohar Sharif has no role in politics despite being a human rights lawyer.

He further asserted that the army is a national institution that they would never fight against or weaken, questioning how others could suggest negotiating with the government and establishment.

Chaudhry concluded that the current government has no regard for the constitution and law, stating that politically and morally, the government has already lost. He remarked that the PTI founder won the February 8 election, while the current government lost.

Had they had any moral justification, the defeated individuals wouldn’t have formed a government, he added. The former minister declared that they couldn’t resort to violence and would not forcibly take over the government.

Read More: PTI to stage power show in Islamabad on July 6

According to sources, senior PTI leaders reached out to Chaudhry, urging him not to criticise the current party leadership.

It was further revealed that both Chaudhry and the PTI leadership agreed on the necessity for opposition parties to unite under the present circumstances. Additionally, PTI leadership assured him that his suggestions would be given due consideration.

PTI has seen a wave of resignations pouring in recently after rumours of forward blocs and internal strifes became apparent. Amid escalating conflicts within the party, lawmaker Junaid Akbar resigned from the party's core committee on Saturday.

His resignation follows that of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, who stepped down as PTI secretary general, indicating further changes in the party’s organisational structure.

Sher Afzal Marwat demanded the resignation of PTI Senator Shibli Faraz, accusing him of preventing access to Imran Khan.