Jail chief not allowed meeting with Imran despite court orders: Omar Ayub

RAWALPINDI. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and party’s nominee for prime minister’s slot, Omar Ayub Khan, complained on Thursday that he was not allowed to meet party founder Imran Khan despite having a court order.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, he said the jail superintendent rudely refused to obey the court order after making him, other party leaders and lawyers, wait for an hour and a half outside the jail gate. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) Thursday allowed Omar Ayub, on his application, to meet the incarcerated party founder and former prime minister in Adiala Jail. He reached the jail with the court orders, but the jail chief refused to allow him to meet Imran Khan.

Omar Ayub, who contested election from National Assembly constituency NA-18, Haripur as an independent candidate, backed by PTI, and won by securing 192,948 votes, said the jail superintendent committed contempt of court by refusing to obey the orders. He said it seemed as if the jail chief was more powerful than the ATC judge.

PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser questioned the credibility of the incoming coalition government, led by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He alleged that the coalition was trying to ‘buy’ loyalties of the PTI-supported winners. He also condemned the prison administration for not allowing them to meet Imran Khan. He claimed that the PMLN was forming governments in Punjab and centre by offering bribes or pressuring the PTI elected people, as they had a fake mandate. “What credibility will this government have? What say will it have? Who will respect this government? If you would not respect the public opinion, how will this country move forward?” he asked.

Asad Qaiser said he would try to talk to the superintendent, presumably that of the Adiala district jail, to meet Imran Khan to discuss various ongoing alliances of the PTI with other political parties.