ISLAMABAD:
Questions are once again being raised over growing internal differences within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after no party leader showed up at Adiala jail on Thursday to meet party founder and incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.
The official meeting hour ended without the arrival of any leader, even though the party had sent a list of six associates – Senator Falak Naz Chitrali, Fazal Elahi, Ehtesham Khan, Sardar Ghulam Ali Asghar Khan Leghari, Syed Naseebullah Agha and Chaudhry Javed Akhtar Gujjar – to the jail authorities the day before.
This is the second time in just two weeks that no member of the party leadership has come to the meeting. Last week, heavyweights including lawyer Gohar Ali Khan, PTI president Sardar Latif Khosa, Babar Awan, Hamid Khan, Intizar Panjotha and Salman Akram Raja were on the list to meet Imran Khan, but no one showed up. This is also the third such no-show in the past two and a half years.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has allowed Imran Khan to meet his family, lawyers and other associates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Despite this order, the former Prime Minister has not been allowed to meet visitors for several months.
Yet every week, Imran Khan’s sisters show up, whether or not they are allowed to meet. The family is suspicious of the inconsistency of the PTI leadership and accuses them of not being serious about working towards the release of Imran Khan.
Aleema Khan openly expressed her strong anger against the party leadership this week. She criticized top leaders, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and lawyer Gohar, for not doing enough to secure her brother’s release and for remaining silent when strong action is needed.
Last week, she also criticized part-leader Salman Akram Raja’s role. His statements highlighted the family’s frustration with the party’s approach at this difficult time. In contrast, Chief Minister Afridi came forward with a strong message of action on the ground.
In a video statement, Afridi said, “President Imran Khan has entrusted me with the responsibility of preparing for the street movement. God willing, I will arrive in Muzaffarabad on Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m., where I will meet you all at Lal Chowk.
Afridi’s announcement comes as the PTI seeks to revive street protests. The plan is to start in Muzaffarabad and then expand to other major cities, including Lahore, on May 1. The main demand remains the release of Imran Khan and stronger political resistance.
Tensions have also emerged between the PTI and the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) – an opposition alliance – over overlapping plans for May Day in Lahore. The TTAP is already scheduled to visit the city on Labor Day at the invitation of Ammar Ali Jan’s Haqooq-e-Khalq Party, while Afridi has announced a PTI street movement event on the same day.
This has created a visible divide, with TTAP expressing concerns that the overlapping events could trigger a government crackdown and create confusion.
TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain told The Express PK Press Club that the matter arose out of a miscommunication and after the meeting with the PTI the other day, it was resolved. He added that both sides should announce a clear position within a day or two.
