PTI leaders again denied meeting with party founder Imran, seek implementation of IHC order

ISLAMABAD: Meetings with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan remained suspended on Thursday as party leaders called for the implementation of the court’s decision allowing the meeting.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) allowed Imran Khan to have twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite the order, the former premier has been restricted from meeting visitors for several months.

The party secretary general had also submitted a list of six party leaders to the jail authorities in line with court orders. The list included Syed Raza Gillani, Tahir Iqbal, Mian Fayyaz Hussain, Qazi Ahmad Akbar, Mehwish Janjua and Abdul Hakeem Zareen.

All party leaders included in the list arrived at Adiala jail on Thursday for a meeting with the PTI founder, but were not allowed to meet him.

Talking to Dawn, Iqbal said he and other leaders arrived at 2pm and were told by the jail administration 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,” he said.

He added that it was unfortunate that the IHC’s orders were not being implemented.

“Salman Akram Raja has filed a petition in the court to ensure the implementation of court orders, but a judge said that the jail superintendent has the final authority to allow 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.

Political apathy emboldens terrorism

Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Thursday expressed profound grief and resolve in response to the martyrdom of security personnel, including Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti and the soldiers accompanying him, during a security operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district.

Terming the incident a “heartbreaking and irreparable loss” to the nation, he conveyed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families.

Echoing the words of the PTI founder, Akram said: “Our brave soldiers continue to lay down their lives fighting terrorists to keep the nation safe.”

He asserted that “chronic weak governance, political apathy, and a dangerously flawed security approach” in the sensitive province of Balochistan had emboldened terrorism once 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.

Akram stressed that terrorism was an existential national challenge that demanded a robust, comprehensive and long-term state strategy backed by effective governance and genuine national unity.