'Imran knew of governor's rule in K-P'

PTI chairman rejects reports that ex-PM 'welcomed' fall of PTI govt

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday said that party founder Imran Khan was fully aware of the imposition of governor's rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rejecting reports that he had welcomed the provincial government's removal.

Speaking to the media near Adiala Jail, Gohar said Imran had not expressed satisfaction over the fall of the K-P government.

Regarding Salman Safdar's meeting with Imran, Gohar said it was the lawyer's first meeting with the PTI founder since April 8, after a gap of 380 days and called it a positive development.

He lamented that the prolonged suspension of meetings had led to the prevailing political tension.

Had regular meetings been allowed, the situation could have improved, tensions might not have escalated, and the situation in K-P might not have reached the point of governor's rule or emergency, he added.

Gohar rejected reports that his name had been finalised for a meeting with Imran, saying he had consistently tried to facilitate meetings between political leaders and the PTI founder.

'Raja rules out immediate political breakthrough'

Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Imran's lawyer, Salman Safdar, had said the party founder was in high spirits during their meeting in jail, with his body language and determination reflecting his resolve to stand by his position.

Speaking to the media at Factory Naka in Rawalpindi, Raja said the meeting between Safdar and Imran had been necessary for the functioning of the judicial system because the PTI founder's cases were not progressing.

He said Safdar had told the court that he would not present arguments until he was allowed to meet his client.

Raja said the meeting was a requirement of the legal process rather than a favour extended to the party.

However, he ruled out any immediate breakthrough, saying the meeting with the lawyer could not be equated with the political-level engagement that the party had been seeking. Unless a political meeting took place, he said, the situation would not move forward.

Raja said he did not see the likelihood of a forward bloc emerging within the party, although he would not rule out any possibility altogether. If anyone within the party harboured reservations or ill intentions, these would eventually become apparent, he said.

Raja also clarified that the PTI was not looking towards Maulana Fazlur Rehman as a saviour. He said that, under a political climate of repression, the party saw no reason to turn away those who stood alongside it.