Imran stops Aleema, Gandapur public spat

Taking notice of the allegations traded between his confidants, PTI patron-in-chief Imran Khan has restrained his sister Aleema Khan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from issuing public statements against each other, and has summoned the latter for a meeting on Thursday (today).

This was stated by PTI Senator Ali Zafar, who spoke to the media outside Adiala Jail after the hearing of the Toshakhana II case. He clarified that Imran had not said anything about removing Gandapur from the chief minister's post.

The controversy began on Tuesday when Aleema claimed that Gandapur had told Imran she was attempting to hijack PTI with the help of an intelligence agency. The remarks came a day after the K-P chief minister met the party founder in prison and left without addressing the press.

Aleema, who also met her brother on Tuesday, said Imran had told her that Gandapur had lodged a complaint against her, alleging that she was "in contact with an intelligence agency and wanted to become the party chairperson".

In a late-night video message, Gandapur acknowledged that he had conveyed to the party founder his concerns over Aleema's alleged attempts to create divisions within the party. He admitted there were internal rifts, accusing Imran's sister of working with certain vloggers to incite workers against him and discredit senior leadership.

The K-P chief minister added that he told Imran such factionalism was serving personal interests and damaging the campaign for the PTI founder's release. Gandapur further alleged that Aleema, with the backing of powerful quarters, was trying to split the party. He pointed out that while her son was released within days, dozens of PTI workers — including Imran himself — had been languishing in jail for months.

He also claimed that Hafeezullah Niazi, a relative of Imran Khan, was spearheading a campaign to elevate Aleema Khan as PTI chairperson.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Zafar said the PTI founder had directed Gandapur to meet him in jail on Thursday. "Imran Khan has also appointed four new coordinators today," he added.

Quoting the PTI founder, Zafar said if Imran continues to be held in solitary confinement, the four coordinators would manage his legal affairs, adding that the new team would now finalise the schedule of meetings with him.

According to Zafar, Imran expressed regret over the public spat between Gandapur and Aleema, stressing that leaders should not air grievances in public as it only benefits political opponents.