KP CM was asked to have PTI rally put off: govt

ISLAMABAD: As rifts emerged within PTI over abrupt postponement of August 22 rally, Barrister Aqeel Malik, the federal government’s spokesperson on legal affairs, said that the Centre approached Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for cancellation of the public gathering.

The former ruling party put off its public gathering in Islamabad and rescheduled it for September 8 as the local administration revoked the no-objection certificate (NOC) and sealed roads leading to the federal capital.

PTI leaders Gohar Ali Khan and Azam Swati claimed that the gathering was postponed on instructions of party founder Imran Khan after they met the incarcerated politician at 07:00am in Adiala Jail ahead of the much-hyped public rally.

However, several party leaders — including Imran’s sister Aleema Khan — contradicted the top leaders’ statements.

“Considering the security concerns, the federal government formally reached out to KP chief minister [Gandapur] and requested him to postpone the rally,” Barrister Aqeel said while speaking in Geo News programme Naya Pakistan’ on Friday.

Later, the government’s spokesperson said, Ali Amin Gandapur held a meeting with the PTI leadership to review the security situation. “The district administration revoked the notification after considering the situation,” he added.

In response to a question, Aqeel said that Imran Khan-founded party had been given conditional permission to hold public gathering on September 8.

Meanwhile, Adviser to KP chief minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif rejected Malik’s statement and said the federal government did not contact CM Gandapur regarding the postponement of rally.

He said neither government nor any other institution facilitated PTI leaders’ meeting with ex-prime minister. “No discussion was held between Imran Khan and CM Gandapur in this regard.”

Barrister Saif also said the federal ministers cannot demoralise PTI workers with what he called concocted statements. “The decision to postpone the gathering was taken by Imran Khan in personal capacity,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan clarified that he had not held discussions with the government regarding the Islamabad rally and maintained in jail he was informed that holding the rally could “lead to nationwide chaos,” which ultimately prompted his decision to cancel it.

On Friday, the PTI announced the postponement of its planned rally in Islamabad’s Tarnol Chowk until September 8.

In an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail on Friday, the former PM explained that the rally, initially planned on Khatm-e-Nubuwwat issue, was postponed after he was advised that it could escalate tensions.

He stated, “I was told that the Khatm-e-Nubuwwat is a sensitive matter, with religious groups already protesting in Islamabad”.

He explained that fearing unrest, the party decided to call off the rally.

“If we had proceeded with the event, there would have been a risk of a repeat of the May 9 events, and the previous judicial inquiry into May 9 has not been conducted yet.”

Imran issued a stern warning, stating, “If you grant permission and then attempt to stop the rally, the government will be fully responsible”.

“This time, it’s a matter of the judiciary’s credibility whether the court grants us permission or the administration cancels it”.

He called upon the party workers to come out for Sept 8 rally in large number.

Imran stated that he had directed the party not to tolerate any obstacles on Sept 8.

He mentioned that the Islamabad rally had been postponed for the last time. He added that the party leadership had been instructed to meet before September 8 to decide when to protest if the Supreme Court’s decision was not implemented.

PTI founder also warned if anyone tried to stop them, “this time, they would not back down”.

When asked about the trial of General (R) Faiz, and the response from the other side questioning who Imran Khan is to demand an open trial, Khan responded, “I am the head of the country’s largest party, and I’m calling for an open trial. You are making a grave accusation that Faiz and I conspired on 9 May”.

“I started my party from scratch and have struggled within the constitution for 28 years. If Faiz was involved on May 9, then conduct an open trial. “This is not a military or secret international issue.”

Imran Khan demanded an open trial of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt-Gen (R) Faiz Hameed who was taken into custody by the military on charges of abuse of power and violating the Army Act.

“I demand that the army chief conduct the trial of General Faiz in an open court,” the former prime minister said.

When questioned about Senator Azam Swati, Khan smiled and declined to comment.

Aleema Khan had questioned why Azam Swati, a PTI leader, visited Imran Khan early in the morning and who instructed him to deliver the message about the rally postponement.

She expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such a meeting at 7:30am at Adiala Jail and alleged that the decision to cancel the rally was made under pressure from the establishment.

When questioned about an audio clip of his sister claiming that Imran had not ordered the rally’s cancellation, but party leaders were using his name to justify the decision, Khan acknowledged, “The entire party is upset and angry about the rally being cancelled”.

“I, too, believe that the rally should not have been postponed; it should have taken place”.

He then reiterated that it was only postponed to “avoid chaos”.

“However, from now on, regardless of the situation, we will hold rallies in every district,” he added. Khan denied any communication with the federal government regarding the rally when asked if he was warned about potential unrest by government officials.

“I have had no talks with any Form 47 government. Whenever they suspect PTI has communicated with the establishment, they immediately recall May 9,” he clarified.

The former PM then made an allegation regarding PMLN supremo, “Nawaz Sharif is ready to return to London”.

“Nawaz Sharif’s backpack is ready; he just needs to pick up his essentials. All this is happening to secure an extension for Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa”.

Imran Khan suggested that two strategies were at play. If they couldn’t extend Isa’s term, they would try to influence seniority to bring in their own person.

He indicated that neither scenario was acceptable, and warned that if such attempts were made, there would be widespread protests across the country.

Khan hinted at recent developments, noting, “Whenever you see turmoil in the PMLN, understand that they fear PTI has communicated with the establishment”.

He concluded by emphasising the judiciary’s role, saying, “Now it’s about the judiciary’s reputation whether the court grants us permission for the rally while the administration cancels the NOC”.

“PTI is the only party being denied permission to hold a rally in Islamabad.”

Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan has conveyed that her brother has said categorically that the proposed September 8 would be held come what may.

In this connection, she conveyed his instructions to the party workers regarding the PTI rally scheduled in Islamabad.

While talking to the media Friday after meeting Imran Khan in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, she said that the founder of PTI has said that the rally was postponed because he was told that there was a risk of chaos. “The audio was mine, as we all were surprised how suddenly the meeting got postponed,” she said referring to the audio that went viral, immediately after the PTI’s public meeting at Tarnol was postponed.

Aleema Khan said that founder PTI has told Azam Swati and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan that the public meeting fixed for September 8 will not be postponed and be held anyway.

She said that instructions have been given to the workers if there is a report of cancelling the meeting, they (workers) will not accept it, the people must leave their homes for the return of the stolen mandate.

She said that no one understands how the meeting could have taken place at 7am and added nothing is possible in the jail without the establishment and that the meeting in the jail at 7 o’clock in the morning was also strange for us. Both the things are possible that the founder PTI already knew about the religious parties gathering or was informed by Swati.

Aleema Khan, who had criticized Azam Khan Swati for the sudden postponement of the PTI meeting a day earlier, said that these people did not want to bring Imran Khan out, the establishment had sent him early in the morning. She wondered why Swati had gone to meet the founder so early.

Earlier, the Special Accountability Court Friday examined the interrogator and key witness in the Al-Qadir Trust reference against the PTI founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi.

Both the accused were presented before Judge Nasir Javed Rana.

The prosecutor and the NAB team — comprising Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi and Amjad Parvez — were present in the court room.

While the lawyers of the accused have completed the cross-examination of 35 witnesses, the NAB has already withdrawn the names of 10 witnesses.

The list now consists of 49 witnesses after the names were withdrawn. The cross-examination will be completed on the next date.