NDC claims Qureshi unhappy with PTI leadership
Claims by the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) that jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed dissatisfaction with the party's current leadership and the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) have triggered sharp denials from both organisations.
However, senior PTI leaders privately acknowledged that concerns over the party's engagement with imprisoned leaders remain genuine and require urgent attention.
The controversy emerged after an NDC delegation led by former PTI leader and ex-federal minister Fawad Chaudhry met three jailed PTI leaders at Kot Lakhpat Jail.
According to the committee, Qureshi complained that the incumbent PTI leadership had abandoned party leaders languishing behind bars and expressed disappointment that TTAP had not sought the advice of incarcerated senior leaders on key party and alliance matters.
Both PTI and TTAP rejected the impression conveyed by the NDC and questioned the credibility of its account. Nevertheless, senior PTI leaders conceded that the broader issue of insufficient engagement with jailed leaders could not be ignored.
"We are not saying that Shah Mehmood Qureshi would have said this to Fawad or others, but the core problem is genuine," one senior PTI leader said. "A couple of meetings here and there do not mean we are acknowledging the sacrifices of those behind bars."
According to NDC leaders, Qureshi questioned the political judgment of the incumbent PTI leadership and appeared unhappy that TTAP had not consulted imprisoned senior leaders on important political matters.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Fawad Chaudhry said the party's senior leadership was failing to regularly meet imprisoned leaders.
He argued that the five senior PTI leaders incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat Jail should lead the party as well as negotiations with the government.
"They have the political wisdom to rightfully guide the party out of this crisis," he said.
Fawad further argued that PTI's political struggle had weakened considerably.
"He said that at present PTI political struggle has relegated from freeing Imran Khan, party founder, to getting him checked by doctors of their choice, showing how weak the party has become".
He maintained that political tensions needed to ease before negotiations could move forward successfully. "He said that the political temperature needs to be brought down for a negotiation to successfully more forward".
Fawad also claimed that moderate voices existed within the ruling PML-N.
"He said that there are moderates in PMLN, such as Ayaz Saddique and Rana Sana Ullah, who also want normality to return in the country".
He further argued that PTI would have to seek space from the establishment if it wanted to regain political ground.
Asked whether the NDC enjoyed the establishment's backing, Fawad replied that the very fact that the delegation had been allowed to hold such meetings suggested official support.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram rejected the committee's account.
"First, they don't acknowledge any National Dialogue Committee, and secondly, they are in regular touch with their leaders behind bars, through their lawyers. We get messages, advice and complaints through them," he said.
Referring to an earlier meeting between the NDC and jailed leaders, Waqas alleged that Fawad had previously misrepresented Qureshi's views.
"He said that when Fawad and others met Shah Mehmood Qureshi and concocted some story, our people met Qureshi a few days later, and informed Shah Mehmood of what Fawad was attributing to him, to which he expressed his surprise and dismay".
He therefore urged caution in accepting the NDC's latest claims.
"He said, given the last episode, one has to take what NDC is saying with a pinch of salt".
However, Waqas agreed that jailed leaders deserved more regular engagement.
"He, however, said that PTI should regularly meet party leaders behind bars".
Rejecting suggestions that senior leaders were being ignored, Waqas said Barrister Gohar had met Shah Mehmood Qureshi three times, while Salman Akram Raja had recently met Yasmin Rashid.
"However, he said the meeting should become a part of our weekly routine and more party leaders should show up for meetings with them to honor their sacrifices".
TTAP Information Secretary Akhundzada Hussain also dismissed the impression that jailed leaders were being sidelined.
"We regularly communicate through Shah Mehmood's legal council Rana Mudasir and even get their advice on important matters. We are not disconnected with them.
They are very much part of our struggle. However, we, unlike NDC, do not get the permission to hold meetings with them.
" Despite the official denials, several PTI leaders told The Express Tribune that insufficient engagement with imprisoned leaders had become a source of resentment within the party.
"Party leadership was, in fact, not holding meetings with those behind bars, a bitter fact that has spread ill will in the party".
One leader remarked that when political workers felt their sacrifices were no longer recognised, their willingness to continue making sacrifices diminished. Another pointed to what he described as a peculiar dilemma within PTI.
"If you are out of the jail, the PTI ecosystem would say he has struck a deal with the establishment and if you are behind bars, they would say you have reached a compromise and enjoying a comfortable life behind bars".
He said many jailed leaders had effectively been forgotten, citing Sahibzada Hamid Raza as an example.
"Case in point is Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who, because of struggling for Imran Khan's cause, is now serving ten years in prison. When was the last time any big name went to meet him".
According to an NDC statement issued after the meeting: "A delegation of the National Dialogue Committee, comprising Mahmood Molvi, Imran Ismail and Fawad Chaudhry, visited Kot Lakhpat Jail today and held a detailed meeting with the incarcerated leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf”.
During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the political and economic crises facing the country.
The imprisoned leaders expressed their full support for the solutions proposed by the NDC and said that dialogue is the only way forward. They added that national unity is the foremost requirement to confront the menace of terrorism.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi appreciated Field Marshal Asim Munir's role in international diplomacy, stating that while Field Marshal Asim Munir has successfully addressed several critical issues through international diplomacy, there is now an urgent need to initiate political dialogue within the country to achieve political stability.
The leaders advised PTI to support efforts aimed at moving forward and resolving outstanding issues so that political tensions could be reduced and the release of political prisoners could become possible.
They further said that allowing Imran Khan access to medical treatment and lifting restrictions on meetings with him would significantly help lower the country's political temperature.