The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Sunday the formation of a five-member committee to oversee and coordinate meetings with the party's incarcerated founding chairman, Imran Khan.
The unanimous decision was made during a meeting of the party's political committee, which convened to discuss the current political situation and other important matters.
According to a statement issued by PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, the newly formed panel will be responsible for preparing a list of individuals authorized to meet the party founder every Tuesday and Thursday.
Where possible, the list for the next meeting will be finalized and approved by Imran Khan during the current session. It will then be forwarded to prison authorities through one of the three focal persons nominated by the PTI founder – Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja or Intezar Panjutha.
The procedure, the party clarified, is in line with Imran's directions and the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) orders.
Meanwhile, no individual outside of the approved list will be allowed to meet the incarcerated former prime minister. Anyone violating the directive will be considered in breach of party discipline and the established procedure.
In case any person on the approved list is stopped by the administration, the remaining individuals will meet the leader in protest. Simultaneously, a contempt petition will be filed against prison authorities.
However, PTI clarified that government officials from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will be exempt from this process. They will be free to meet Imran on any day and at any time without being bound by the committee's approved list.
It is pertinent to note that the development follows a recent verbal exchange among senior PTI leaders regarding a meeting with the party supremo.
Reports claimed that the list provided to Adiala Jail authorities in Rawalpindi did not include the names of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar. However, both still managed to meet with the party founder. This led to objections from some senior PTI members.
Speaking to the media last week, Barrister Gohar expressed deep concerns about the use of the term "manzoor-e-nazar" (favourite). He asserted that Imran Khan trusts everyone and described Zafar as an honest individual.
"I have serious reservations about the term 'manzoor-e-nazar,' but I am committed to uniting the party, even if it means stepping down from my position," he asserted.
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