Govt weighs PTI's Imran meeting request

No commitment after Gohar phones Naqvi

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday assured Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan that his request for a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail would be considered, according to a ministry spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that Barrister Gohar had written a letter to the minister, requesting a meeting with Imran Khan. The PTI chairman also had a phone conversation with the minister the other day.

The government had banned all prisoner visits due to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit taking place in Islamabad on Tuesday and Wednesday. In response, the PTI announced plans to protest the meeting ban on Tuesday.

The interior ministry clarified that while minister Mohsin Naqvi assured Barrister Gohar that the request would be considered, no commitment was made to approve the visit.

"Due to the SCO summit and security concerns, all prisoner meetings are prohibited. Allowing a visit to a single prisoner would create double standards and be unfair to others," the spokesperson added.

The interior ministry's statement followed remarks by Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, who criticized the PTI's call for protests during the SCO summit, calling it irresponsible.

"These people are fighting among themselves. No political party is bigger than Pakistan. If they want to protest, they can do it at home," Tarar said while speaking to the media at the inauguration of the Media Facilitation Centre.

He highlighted recent diplomatic successes, noting that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had a fruitful visit to Pakistan in October, followed by a high-level Saudi delegation. "Today, the Chinese Premier is visiting Pakistan, and the SCO summit will be held tomorrow," he added.

Tarar emphasized the importance of the SCO summit, stating that it would enhance Pakistan's global standing. "Pakistan is playing a key role in the region and has become the focus of international attention. The SCO conference will attract investment to the country," he said.

He described the summit as a significant event and an honor for Pakistan. "Full security arrangements have been made in Islamabad. The prime minister will represent Pakistan's stance on Palestine and Kashmir at the conference," Tarar said.

On the other hand, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique took to the microblogging site 'X' to criticize the PTI's habit of calling for protests whenever foreign dignitaries visit Pakistan.

In his tweet, Rafique warned that repeatedly putting party workers in confrontation with law enforcement is a dangerous approach. "Confrontation should be avoided, and the PTI should unconditionally withdraw its protest call," he urged.