PTI core committee to challenge £190m verdict within 48 hours

Party members agreed that protest would be staged on February 8, based on Imran Khan's directive.

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to challenge the recent verdict in the £190 million reference case within the next 48 hours, Express News reported.

The internal discussions from the PTI core committee meeting revealed that after the ruling, both political and legal options were considered. The conduct of the judge delivering the verdict was also reviewed, with the possibility of submitting the Supreme Court's decision on the judge's conduct as part of the record.

According to sources, the legal team briefed the core committee, arguing that there were significant legal flaws in the ruling. The core committee was also briefed on the ongoing PTI-government negotiations. Members expressed the need for weekly meetings to ensure all members are kept informed as much of the information currently comes from the media.

Members of the committee voiced concerns that the government was avoiding negotiations and that their approach was undemocratic. It was suggested that the government had expected PTI’s founder to refrain from coming to the negotiation table.

Omar Ayub stated, “Despite all attempts to hinder us, we are serious about negotiations, and we have formally submitted our demands in writing in response to the government’s request.”

Sources also reported that after the verdict in the founder’s case, PTI member Aliya Hamza criticised the lack of a protest. She questioned why the party had not taken to the streets, expressing that the party's only goal was the release of its founder.

PTI members agreed that a significant protest would be staged on February 8, based on the founder’s directive. The party also agreed to finalise arrangements for the protest after consulting with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.