PTI leaders again denied meeting with Imran Khan despite IHC order

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders were once again not allowed to meet jailed party founder Imran Khan on Thursday, even though the Islamabad High Court has permitted him to hold meetings twice a week with family members, lawyers and other associates.

Under the court order, meetings are to take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, according to the party, the former prime minister has remained unable to meet visitors for several months despite the ruling.

PTI Secretary General had submitted a list of six party leaders to jail authorities in accordance with the court’s directions. The names on the list were Syed Raza Gillani, Tahir Iqbal, Mian Fayyaz Hussain, Qazi Ahmad Akbar, Mehwish Janjua and Abdul Hakeem Zareen.

All six leaders reached Adiala jail on Thursday to meet Imran Khan, but the meeting did not take place.

Speaking to Dawn, Tahir Iqbal said he and the other leaders arrived at 2pm and were asked by jail officials to wait.

We were told that we would be allowed to conduct the meeting if approval was granted. However, we remained there until 4:30pm but no orders came for the meeting.

Iqbal said it was regrettable that the Islamabad High Court’s directions were still not being implemented. He said Salman Akram Raja had moved a petition before the court seeking enforcement of the order, but added that a judge had observed that the jail superintendent had the final authority to permit a meeting.

Unfortunately, there is no law, no constitution and no moral values in Pakistan. A person has been in jail for over two years and his family is not being allowed to meet him. On the other hand, it is said that Pakistan is a democratic country.

Iqbal said.

PTI reacts to Barkhan operation deaths

Separately, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Thursday expressed grief over the killing of security personnel, including Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti and soldiers with him, during a security operation in Barkhan district of Balochistan.

He described the incident as a heartbreaking and irreparable loss for the country and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

Referring to remarks he attributed to the PTI founder, Akram said:

Our brave soldiers continue to lay down their lives fighting terrorists to keep the nation safe.

Akram said weak governance, political apathy and what he called a flawed security approach in Balochistan had allowed militancy to gain strength again.

The federal government’s dangerous obsession with political vendettas has pushed national security to the back burner, revealing its callous disregard for the lives of soldiers and citizens alike.

he said.

He added that terrorism was an existential national challenge and said it required a robust, comprehensive and long-term state strategy supported by effective governance and genuine national unity.