TTAP rejects PTI claim of no prior notice for Adiala jail protest plan

ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s claim that its parliamentary leadership was not informed in advance about a proposal to bring 10,000 people outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for a demonstration linked to jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.

The disagreement surfaced after PTI leadership distanced itself from the proposed gathering on Tuesday, saying National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai had not told them such a mobilisation was required. A day earlier, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan had said she was approached by Achakzai and told that 10,000 people could assemble outside the prison if a time was set. She had said a sit-in had been planned from 3pm to 7pm.

However, PTI Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Shahid Khattak later rejected the suggestion that such an understanding had been reached. Speaking to the media, he said Achakzai had not informed PTI that 10,000 people needed to be gathered and added that the party could have done so if it had been told. He also said Achakzai should have informed the party about the planned gathering so it could mobilise supporters.

TTAP response

On Wednesday, TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai disputed Khattak’s account in a statement. He said PTI leaders and members had repeatedly asked Mahmood Khan Achakzai to announce a clear date and time for a protest or sit-in outside Adiala Jail so they could organise and bring supporters to the site.

According to Yousafzai, Achakzai conveyed the proposal to Aleema Khan, who agreed to the idea of holding the protest outside Adiala Jail at a predetermined time. He further said that during a joint parliamentary meeting of the Senate and National Assembly at Parliament House on June 11, attended by PTI parliamentary leaders including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Shahid Khattak, participants were told that Aleema Khan had endorsed the plan for a scheduled protest outside the jail.

A statement issued by TTAP said the meeting was also informed that Aleema had decided the protest planned for Tuesday would end at a designated time. Yousafzai said the discussions and decisions had been shared with PTI’s parliamentary leadership and expressed concern over Khattak’s subsequent remarks.

Background to prison access dispute

Imran Khan has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail since Aug 5, 2023, after being convicted for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts. He is serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The Islamabad High Court has allowed the former prime minister to meet family members, lawyers and other associates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Despite that order, he has been restricted from meeting visitors for several months.

His eye condition, right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), became public in late January. His first medical procedure took place on January 24, followed by a second dose on February 24 and a third dose on March 23.

In recent months, the government and opposition have traded accusations over his treatment and prison access. The opposition has accused the government of lacking transparency over his medical care and of not allowing his personal doctors to examine him, while the government has denied those allegations. The opposition has also demanded his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, treatment in the presence of his personal physicians and permission for family meetings.