Adiala no-show amplifies talk of PTI's internal rifts

Tensions surface over PTI and TTAP plans for May 1 events in Lahore

ISLAMABAD:

Questions are being raised once again about growing internal differences within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after not a single party leader turned up at the Adiala Jail to meet the party founder and incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday.

The official meeting time ended without any leader arriving, even though the party had sent a list of six associates – Senator Falak Naz Chitrali, Fazal Elahi, Ehtesham Khan, Sardar Ghulam Ali Asghar Khan Leghari, Syed Naseebullah Agha, and Chaudhry Javed Akhtar Gujjar – to jail authorities the day before.

This marks the second time in just two weeks that no one from the party leadership came for the meeting. Last week, heavyweights including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Sardar Latif Khosa, Babar Awan, Hamid Khan, Intizar Panjotha and Salman Akram Raja were on the list to meet Imran Khan, but no one showed up. It is also only the third such no-show in the last two and a half years.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has allowed Imran Khan twice-a-week meetings, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite the order, the former premier has been largely restricted from meeting visitors for several months.

Yet every week, Imran Khan's sisters show up, no matter if they are allowed to meet or not. The family has grown wary of the PTI leadership's inconsistency and has accused them of not being serious about working for Imran Khan's release.

Aleema Khan has openly expressed strong anger at the party leadership this week. She criticised senior leaders, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Barrister Gohar, for not doing enough to secure her brother's release and for staying silent when strong action is needed.

Last week she also criticised senior partly leader Salman Akram raja's role. Her statements have highlighted the family's frustration with the party's approach during this difficult time. In a sharp contrast, Chief Minister Afridi has stepped forward with a strong message of action on the ground.

In a video statement, Afridi declared: "Chairman Imran Khan has assigned me the responsibility of preparing for the street movement. God willing, I will arrive in Muzaffarabad on Saturday, April 25 at 2 PM, where I will meet all of you at Lal Chowk."

Afridi's announcement comes as PTI looks to restart street protests. The plan is to begin in Muzaffarabad and then move to other major cities, including Lahore on May 1. The main demand remains Imran Khan's release and stronger political resistance.

Tensions have also surfaced between PTI and the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) – an opposition alliance – over overlapping plans for May 1 in Lahore. The TTAP is already scheduled to visit the city on Labour Day at the invitation of Ammar Ali Jan's Haqooq-e-Khalq Party, while Afridi announced a PTI street movement event on the same day.

This has created a visible rift, with the TTAP expressing concerns that the overlapping events could trigger a government crackdown and create confusion.

TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain told The Express Tribune that the matter stemmed from miscommunication and after meeting with the PTI the other day had been resolved. He added that both sides were expected to announce a clear position within a day or two.