TTAP rejects reports of differences with Imran Khan’s family

ISLAMABAD: Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Friday dismissed reports suggesting differences with the family of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, saying its relationship with the former prime minister’s family remained intact.

In a response to recent media reports, TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain said Imran Khan’s family had always been held in high esteem and that the alliance rested on mutual respect, trust and sincerity.

Hussain said TTAP leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas had deep respect for Imran Khan’s family. He added that Khan’s sisters, especially Aleema Khanum, had consistently raised their voice regarding their brother’s health and had called for transparent and timely hearings of his cases.

The clarification came after Aleema Khan, during a recent media interaction, sharply criticised the PTI leadership, including the party chairman and secretary general, for not doing enough regarding the PTI protest movement and her brother’s health. She had also strongly objected to the postponement of the party’s public meeting that had been scheduled for April 9, the date on which the PTI government was removed in 2022 through a no-confidence motion.

Following her remarks, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja rejected the allegations against him. He said he had never sought the party position and announced that he would again send his resignation to the incarcerated PTI founder.

Salman Akram Raja had also defended the decision to postpone the public meeting, saying it was taken in the national interest because of the arrival of very important delegates from Iran and the US. He further said the decision, which had already been made by the PTI political committee, was also endorsed by Imran Khan.

TTAP says reports are baseless

In his statement, Hussain said “It is also clarified that the reasons for not attending the meeting were explained in detail on Thursday, which need not be repeated here.”

He added that reports circulating in the media linking the opposition alliance leadership’s absence from the meeting to Aleema Khanum were unfounded.

“The news circulating in the media, in which the non-participation of the leadership of the opposition alliance is being linked to Aleema Khanum, is very unfortunate and baseless, which we strongly deny”, the TTAP spokesperson said.

Hussain further said such reports were aimed at creating an impression of discord between Imran Khan’s family and the opposition alliance.

“Our alliance is strong and will remain based on mutual respect”, he maintained.

According to the TTAP spokesperson, attempts to portray a split between the two sides would not succeed, and the alliance would continue on the basis of respect and understanding.