Fear of rejection caused PTI to postpone rally: Khawaja Asif

SIALKOT/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif on Sunday claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had postponed the August 22 rally in Islamabad over “fear of rejection” from the masses.

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

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the defence minister claimed that Imran would not have cancelled the rally if it had been meant to be “successful”, dismissing the notion of establishment’s interference in the PTI’s decision. Currently, the PTI wanted to build another “false narrative” to desperately save its diminishing popularity, he said.

Asif claimed that rifts within the PTI were evident following the abrupt cancellation of the rally, pointing out “contradictory remarks” of Imran, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan and Raoof Hasan.

Aleema had expressed a lack of confidence in the current PTI leadership, saying that they have no “real intention” of getting the ousted premier freed from jail, who was removed from power through a parliamentary vote in April 2022.

Meanwhile, the defence minister also lambasted the former ruling party for denying involvement in the May 9 riots wherein military installations came under attack after the former PM was arrested. “The faces of elements involved in vandalism can be indisputably recognised in the videos,” he said, referring to the PTI leaders who were recorded protesting on May 9, 2023.

In response to a question regarding Imran’s meeting with Swati in Adiala jail, Asif said, “Meetings or conversations in jail cannot remain a secret, your every movement is recorded.”

The minister said work was being carried out on foreign agenda, adding that they would vigorously fight it and defend Pakistan’s national unity.

He also labelled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, ‘Buzdar 2’ and said he has even surpassed the former Punjab chief executive in terms of failure of governance.

“A blame game is underway in the PTI-led province as his [Gandapur] cabinet members are calling him [a] thief,” he added.

Responding to another question, the federal minister said that it doesn’t matter whether the Democrats or the Republicans come into power in the United States. “We have to change our fate ourselves, the US cannot.”

Meanwhile, in what could be considered successive blows, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), after shelving its Islamabad public gathering three days ago, has now called off its August 27 power show in Lahore. The former ruling party’s Secretary of Information for Punjab, Shaukat Mahmood Basra, said that a new date would soon be announced for the Lahore rally after their public meeting in the federal capital on September 8.

He claimed that the Imran Khan-founded party would pay full attention to its forthcoming major political event. The development is being dubbed another dent in the political reputation of the embattled party, which has suffered back-to-back setbacks in holding its political events.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political committee has named former president Dr Arif Alvi as the head of a committee to resolve issues, if any within the party. A senior party leader confirmed to The News that a reconciliation or issue resolution committee has been formed, to be headed by the former president Dr Alvi. He explained that anyone having any issue concerning the party’s policies and an office-bearer would now be able to approach Dr Alvi for its prompt resolution instead of getting engaged in issuance of statements.

“The committee will give suggestions to end the internal differences after meeting the leaders, who may have differences and listen to their concerns and grievances,” he maintained.

Earlier, former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan on Sunday visited Peshawar to meet the families of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who faced imprisonment.

Aleema Khan visited the Murshidabad locality in the provincial capital where she met the families and workers of PTI who underwent imprisonment. She said she would soon launch a campaign for the release of her brother and former prime minister Imran Khan with the support of PTI workers. She also went to Mardan to meet the PTI workers. Aleema Khan was accompanied by MNA Shandana Gulzar and PTI leader Khadija Shah.

On the other hand, Adviser to Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif dismissed reports about differences between Aleema Khan and Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi. He said the “mandate-thief” government was spreading disinformation, adding that Imran Khan was himself supervising the party affairs. He said the PTI rank and file stood united under the leadership of Imran Khan. The “incompetent government” had launched propaganda against the PTI leadership. The statement came in the aftermath of remarks made by the Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar. Barrister Saif said that there were serious differences in the Sharif family as Shehbaz and Nawaz-led groups were trying to take control of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.