Imran blames Naqvi for Pakistan's CT exit

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ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder on Tuesday held Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi responsible for the early exit of the national team from the ongoing Champions Trophy.

Imran's sister Aleema Khan and PTI lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Faisal Chaudhry told reporters outside the Adiala Jail that Imran was deeply saddened by Pakistan's defeat. They quoted him as saying that Naqvi had played a key role in the deterioration of cricket in the country.

"Imran Khan said that no one in Pakistan has as many positions as Mohsin Naqvi has. When Naqvi was appointed [Punjab] Chief Minister, he committed injustices. He is appointed interior minister, he again committed injustices. Whichever position he is appointed, he makes a mess of it," Aleema Khan said.

"Imran Khan said that a respectable man would resign after such a poor performance but this could not happen," Aleema Khan said. "Mohsin Naqvi destroyed merit, therefore, the cricket team could not come on top," added Faisal Chaudhry.

Aleema said that Imran had instructed that only party officials would speak about him. She rejected a statement from former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri about Imran's health, saying that the PTI founder "is fine". She confirmed that Imran spoke with his sons last Saturday.

Letter to CJ

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also confirmed that the PTI founder had spoken to his children for the fourth time in the past six months. However, there was no meeting between him and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

"Imran said that the prison system is given to those who are not related to the prison system," Raja said. "Imran Khan has instructed for writing another letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. On his instructions, I will write the letter to the chief justice. I will put this matter before him," Raja told the media.

Referring to a meeting between a delegation of the PTI with the chief justice last week, Raja said that Imran Khan had instructed the party to carry forward what the chief justice has said.