PTI lawmakers decry lack of action on Imran’s release

PESHAWAR: A group of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmakers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has voiced concern over what it described as insufficient efforts by the party leadership for the release of jailed founder Imran Khan, while also flagging governance-related complaints in the province and calling for a structured action plan.

The concerns were conveyed in a letter sent to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali after a meeting in Peshawar attended by provincial legislators. According to the letter, participants said the situation surrounding the campaign for Imran Khan’s release, as well as his health, was creating unease among party workers, supporters and what they called patriotic citizens.

The letter said workers believed the campaign had moved away from its central objective and had come to focus mainly on health and treatment issues. It added that the ongoing effort for the former prime minister’s release appeared to be confined largely to formal statements, limited protest activity and symbolic steps.

“Workers feel the release movement has deviated from its core direction and become limited merely to health and treatment matters. The ongoing movement for the leader’s release appears largely limited to formal statements, restricted protest activities and symbolic measures. A new strategy should be formulated to make the movement effective, organised and result-oriented,” it stated.

The lawmakers warned in the letter that if these concerns were not dealt with quickly and effectively, the party could face political damage. They demanded a positive, comprehensive and effective strategy for Imran Khan’s release, while also seeking an organised plan for imprisoned party leaders and workers, including legal support, family welfare and other necessary matters.

Governance issues raised

Besides the release campaign, the legislators also expressed reservations over what they called interference by irrelevant individuals in the affairs of the provincial government, departures from merit, unequal allocation of resources and inadequate consultation with elected MPAs on powers and development funds related to their constituencies.

According to the letter, participants stressed that government business should be conducted on the basis of transparency, merit, institutional discipline and consultation with elected representatives. They said that since PTI had formed the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Imran Khan’s stated vision of merit, transparency and good governance should be implemented in practical terms across all sectors.

The letter stated that the lawmakers had held detailed discussions during the parliamentary party meeting on the party’s broader political situation, Imran Khan’s release, the difficulties faced by party workers and leaders, the effectiveness of the current release movement and governance matters in the province. It also said a comprehensive strategy should be prepared in light of lawmakers’ views so that interference by irrelevant elements could be checked and the provincial government could deliver public service and governance more effectively.

Appeal for legal coordination

The legislators also called for a coordinated, active and effective legal strategy in the cases of Imran Khan, party leaders and workers, saying this would send a clear message to workers and the public about the party’s seriousness and resolve.

The letter further said some social media platforms and media outlets were creating a misleading impression by linking assembly members to various groups or personalities. It said the meeting made clear that all assembly members remained committed to the ideology, manifesto and vision of PTI founder Imran Khan and were not pursuing the agenda of any group, faction or individual personality.

“The meeting clarified that all assembly members are committed to the ideology, manifesto and vision of PTI founder Imran Khan and are neither working on the agenda of any group, faction or personality nor do they associate themselves with any specific group,” as per the letter.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the party’s central secretary general and central information secretary.

One of the dissatisfied MPAs told Dawn that around 20 lawmakers were apparently unhappy over not being given cabinet positions during the recent expansion. The lawmaker said those legislators did not attend the parliamentary party meeting called by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, which had been convened to demonstrate that there was no division within the party. The same MPA said all of the disgruntled lawmakers travelled together to Rawalpindi on Tuesday to protest outside Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is being held. He also said Barrister Gohar Ali had not yet responded to the letter because he was occupied with the party’s election campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan.