Imran Khan’s release essential to resolve political crisis: Sheikh Rashid

Speaking to the media, Rashid expressed hope for 'positive developments' in the political landscape by December 30

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has urged for dialogue to resolve the political crisis in the country and to secure the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan.

Speaking to the media outside a Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court, the former interior minister expressed hope for “positive developments” in the political landscape by December 30.

“I want dialogue, even if the solution comes from a narrow path, and Imran Khan’s release is achieved,” Rashid stated. He criticised the 'lack of justice in the country' and highlighted ongoing challenges faced by ordinary citizens.

Rashid also predicted a shift in Pakistan’s politics, suggesting that parties including PML-N and PPP would soon face a new dynamic.

He called on authorities to release innocent individuals and labourers detained in connection with the events of May 9.

Addressing economic concerns, Rashid condemned the financial mismanagement by those in power, noting their 'tarnished reputation' abroad.

He highlighted the struggles of the poor, including the growing inaccessibility of education, and offered financial support for school admissions through his Lal Haveli office.

Rejecting any ongoing political negotiations, Rashid maintained his stance for dialogue to address the country’s mounting crises and reiterated his call for the release of all political detainees, including Imran Khan.

PTI says Nov 24 will decide who stays in party

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been gearing up for its rally in the federal capital on November 24 on the call from incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, with senior party leaders giving final touches to an effective strategy.

According to an Express News report, the PTI had decided to forcefully enter the federal capital from all sides next Sunday. The party founder said in a social media message that participation in the protest would determine as to who would stay in the party.

In this regard, Bushra Bibi, wife of the PTI founder who is currently residing in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister House, had been active in the preparations. On Sunday, she met with youth leaders and members of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) to convey Imran's message.

According to Imran's instructions, issued by the PTI on social media, November 24 would be the day of decision, stressing that on that day "it will be decided who will stay in my party and who won't". Imran urged the party leaders to take out caravan to the streets and make videos of them.

According to the sources, the PTI leadership was determined to reach Islamabad in any case. The party leaders had mobilised resources to ensure the success of their protest rally, despite an expected government crackdown on their workers and leaders, particularly in Punjab and Islamabad.

For the success of the rally, the PTI founder had appointed three senior leaders, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, and Omar Ayub Khan, as his focal persons, according to an announcement by Additional PTI Secretary General Firdaus Shamim Naqvi.

To maximise the participation, the PTI had launched public outreach campaigns across Punjab, K-P and Sindh. Workers had been conducting door-to-door campaigns at night to avoid arrests ahead of upcoming rally, while a social media strategy sought to amplify the party's message.

The party had instructed local organisations to ensure the departure of caravans, comprising at least 5,000 participants, from small towns, while those from larger cities should exceed 10,000, to show maximum strength and make it difficult for law-enforcement personnel to make arrests.

The PTI had also devised contingency plans in case of arrests of frontline leadership, nominating second- and third-tier leaders to take charge. Regional and district leaders had been directed to intensify mass mobilisation efforts, highlighting the fake cases against Imran.

In Peshawar, meanwhile, Bibi held a series of meetings at the Chief Minister's House with party officials from Hazara, Malakand, and Balochistan. Bibi stressed the importance of intensifying efforts for Imran's release. She emphasised the role of youth and party leadership in the ongoing struggle.

In the meetings, Bibi warned that decision of the "party tickets in the next elections" and party positions would depend on the leadership's active participation in the protest. She made it clear that those who got arrested or disappeared before the protest would find no place in the party.

She said that there would be no turning back until the release of Imran from jail. "On that day it will be decided who is in the Tehreek-e-Insaaf and who is not. Those who play the role of Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq will have no place in PTI," the sources quoted her as saying.

In the meetings, also attended by K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Bibi issued guidelines to the PTI's assembly members, office-bearers, and workers. According to the sources, she told the party to reach the D-Chowk in Islamabad at any cost on the instructions of Imran.

She added that every provincial and national assembly member should film their journey as part of a convoy from Peshawar to Islamabad for the protest. The video should also capture PTI supporters accompanying the members in their vehicles.

The November 24 rally aims at addressing key issues facing the party, including opposition to the 26th Constitutional Amendment, judicial independence, the return of PTI's stolen mandate, and the release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan.

The PTI leaders reiterated their commitment to a peaceful political struggle and underscored the constitutional right to freedom of speech and protest. They called on the government to avoid obstructing the rally.

For the protest, the PTI had decided to enter Islamabad from all sides. In this regard, the party leadership from Islamabad and Rawalpindi region had been entrusted with the important responsibilities of continuing protests until the convoys from other areas reached Islamabad.

The convoys from all the other provinces had been given separate routes to the federal capital, Express News reported, citing its sources. The PTI Core Committee members had proposed a sit-in in the D Chowk for an indefinite period.

According to the sources, Express News report said, K-P chief minister had prepared a big surprise for the federal government. However, in case of the arrest of senior party leaders, a Plan-B would be followed, led by the alternative leadership.

In preparation, PTI's leadership had instructed its members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Provincial Assembly (MPAs) to bear the travel expenses of their constituents, ensuring that party workers from across the country could join the protest in Islamabad.

PTI's leadership has developed a detailed plan to manage the logistics and strategy of the protest, which sources claim was "more refined and strategically sound" than previous demonstrations to give a "surprise" to the federal government.

In a separate meeting at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar, chaired by Chief Minister Gandapur, a separate force, comprising the youth, had been formed to remove containers and other obstacles on the routes and counter tear gas shelling by the police.

Gadapur said that the youth force would be provided the necessary machinery and equipment in their talks. The chief minister also told the party supporters that this was the final call for the protest and nobody would return from Islamabad until Imran Khan was released from the Adiala jail.