PTI engages allies to calm Imran’s standoff with establishment

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is discussing different options with its opposition allies, including bringing an end to confrontational politics with the military establishment, to create political space for the party and win relief for its jailed founder chairman Imran Khan.

Informed sources said that some of the opposition alliance’s leaders, including Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) head Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, have been asked to convince Imran Khan to cool down the tempers, check the offensive social media, and extend all possible support to the authorities against terrorism.

These sources said that Allama Nasir Abbas, who intends to meet Imran Khan in Adiala jail, was told by some top PTI leaders, including its Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, to persuade Imran to let the tempers cool down for party’s return to normal politics.

Barrister Gohar, when contacted, said that the party is discussing different options with its allies. He, however, said that he could not divulge with the media the details of the party’s discussion with its allies. A YouTuber, who is presently abroad and is known for his closeness with the PTI, claimed that Gohar recently begged from Allama Nasir Abbas and Achakzai to help lower the temperature but the alliance leaders did not agree.

Though the PTI is talking about launching a new phase of protest against the government after Eid, there are several leaders who do not want the repeat of last few years’ confrontational politics which did no good either for the party or its leadership, including Imran Khan. It is said that if Imran Khan avoids harsh statements and the PTI’s social media is stopped from fueling the fire between the party and the military establishment, the things will improve for the party. As the country faces growing incidents of terrorism, some top PTI leaders believe that the party should be seen standing with the state and its institutions in its fight against terrorism. The irresponsible role of the party’s social media has upset many party leaders but they know that no one except Imran Khan could stop the party’s social media from doing so.