Sanaullah throws hat behind restoration of Imran's meetings 'if no new date given' post-Feb 8 protest

Rana says the narrative presented by PTI against state institutions after meeting its founder is 'unacceptable'

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Monday that the meetings of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan with his family and relatives should be allowed subject to the condition that no new date or call was given for a protest after February 8.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. Meetings with his family members, which typically occur on Tuesday, have not been allowed.

Meanwhile, the PTI has announced a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike on February 8 to mark two years since the 2024 general elections.

Speaking in an interview on programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath' on a private media broadcaster, Sanaullah said a meeting tomorrow with one of Imran's sister could be possible, but, he said nothing to that effect was discussed in talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

He supported the jail administration's decision to not allow meetings if Imran "wants to pour fuel over fire" before Feb 8.

"If no new date is given after Feb 8 then it should happen and there is no grounds to not allow a meeting."

However, Sanaullah said that press conferences or stances against institutions and their heads in the after match of the meetings was "unacceptable".

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“A narrative against institutions who are sacrificing their lives can’t be tolerated. PTI must step back from this. If PTI wants to continue all this, then it must do so against the government or political parties,” he said.

On Imran’s health, Sanaullah said he was receiving the best possible medical care “according to his position”, and described claims to the contrary as baseless propaganda.

Commenting on the meeting between PM Shehbaz and CM Afridi, Sanaullah said the discussion took place in a pleasant atmosphere and focused on a two-point agenda.

“We both have different parties, ideologies and approaches, therefore we will not condition anything to other matter — put this matter aside, let’s come and discuss on Pakistan,” Sanaullah quoted the prime minister as saying.

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On the recent attacks in Balochistan, Sanaullah said the government had a comprehensive counter-terrorism policy and that the army was fully capable and in control of the situation. He said all the attackers had been killed.

“The only purpose of the attacks is to destabilise the country and damage the reputation of Pakistan as a state,” he added.