Imran wants release of prisoners, May 9, Nov 26 commissions: Aleema

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) committee members on Monday informally discussed the proposed ‘charter of demands’ to be put before the ruling coalition committee in their upcoming meeting on January 2.

The PTI sources told The News the committee was expected to be in full attendance during the second meeting and present its demands with an ‘open mind and positive approach’. It is quite likely that the party’s committee members, they noted, would have a formal meeting prior to the meeting with the government panel to thrash out the demands which, otherwise, are clear and already spelt out by the party founder chairman.

They contended that the PTI committee would put forward only two demands in writing to the government team and would like to have the other side’s response in writing as well. Separately, former speaker National Assembly (NA) and senior party leader Asad Qaiser said their demands were clear, including the release of the founder and formation of a commission to probe the May 9 and Nov 26 incidents.

While talking to the media here, he said they were opposed to holding talks for the sake of talks. He explained that he was holding consultation with his negotiating team and meetings were also ongoing.

“All members of the negotiating team will be a part of the next session. We will try to provide all possible cooperation to the government committee to take the country forward,” he added. In a related development, Aleema Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, declared that her brother had made it clear that he neither wanted any deal with the establishment nor any foreign country was trying to get him released.

Talking to the media outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, she said countless people coming for Nov-26 protest had gone missing. She said the PTI founder believed their bodies had been buried like those killed in the Lal Masjid operation. The PTI founder demanded a judicial commission to probe the Nov-26 protest. She said the Toshakhana-II case was similar to the first Toshakhana case.

Aleema said the verdict in Al-Qadir University case was to be pronounced on January 6, and Al-Qadir and Toshakhana-II cases would end in courts. She quoted the PTI founder as saying that the judiciary was being mocked currently. “I will not make a deal on anyone’s request; I will fight every case.

“I have spent one-and-a-half years in jail, then what is the need for me to make a deal and get out of jail,” she quoted her brother as telling her. According to Imran, Aleema said cases of those who left the PTI were forgiven, and the May 9 conspiracy had already been hatched. The PTI founder again demanded a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 incidents.

She said her brother again refused to accept house arrest at Banigala. She said the PTI founder again made only two demands i.e. a judicial commission on May 9 and Nov 26 incidents and release of innocent prisoners.