Rana says PTI’s rhetoric against state institutions after meeting founder ‘unacceptable’
Rana Sanaullah. PHOTO: FILE
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday said meetings of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan with his family and relatives should be allowed on the condition that no new date or call is given for a protest after February 8.
Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Prison in a £190 million corruption case. Additionally, he faces ongoing trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the May 9, 2023 protests. Meetings with his family members, which usually take place on Tuesdays, have not been permitted.
Meanwhile, the PTI announced a strike of wheel locks and shutdowns on February 8 to mark the second anniversary of the 2024 general elections.
Speaking in an interview on private media’s ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ show, Sanaullah said a meeting tomorrow with one of Imran’s sisters might be possible, but he said nothing to this effect was discussed during the talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
He supported the prison administration’s decision not to allow meetings if Imran “wants to add fuel to the fire” before February 8.
“If no new date is given after February 8, it should take place and there is no reason not to allow a meeting.”
However, Sanaullah said press conferences or stances against institutions and their leaders during post-match meetings were “unacceptable”.
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“Speech against institutions sacrificing their lives cannot be tolerated. PTI must withdraw from this. If PTI wants to continue all this, then it must do it against the government or political parties,” he said.
Regarding Imran’s health, Sanaullah said he was receiving the best possible medical care “based on his position”, and called claims to the contrary baseless propaganda.
Commenting on the meeting between PM Shehbaz and CM Afridi, Sanaullah said the discussion took place in a pleasant atmosphere and focused on a two-point agenda.
“We both have different parties, ideologies and approaches, so we will not condition anything on other issues – let’s put this issue aside, come and discuss Pakistan,” Sanaullah quoted the prime minister as saying.
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Regarding the recent attacks in Balochistan, Sanaullah said the government had a comprehensive anti-terrorism policy and the army was fully capable and in control of the situation. He said all the attackers were killed.
“The sole aim of these attacks is to destabilize the country and damage the reputation of Pakistan as a state,” he added.
