Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail and Mahmood Moulvi become active again and plan meetings with political players
Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders have re-emerged on the political scene, reaching out to senior government officials in what is described as an effort to ease political tensions and seek relief for the party’s jailed founder, Imran Khan.
Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 over several cases, including the £190 million corruption case in which he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
With the former prime minister’s legal options narrowing, with no breakthrough in sight and internal divisions within the PTI reportedly deepening, a group of former party heavyweights have stepped forward in what they see as a last-ditch bid to secure his release.
Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail and Mahmood Moulvi – all once considered close allies of Khan – have become active again, planning a series of meetings with key political players to promote political de-escalation. The group is expected to meet Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday, where discussions are expected to focus on restoring dialogue and reducing polarization.
Sources said the former PTI leaders are also planning meetings with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, with the schedules being finalized. After completing these engagements, the group also plans to visit Adiala jail to meet Imran Khan.
Chaudhry and Shujaat urged to defuse political tensions
Meanwhile, Fawad held an important meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. The two leaders discussed in detail ways to reduce growing political tensions in the country and promote reconciliation.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Fawad said Chaudhry Shujaat called dialogue essential to bring down the political temperature. “The country is currently experiencing extreme bitterness and division. In such a situation, all political forces must come together at the negotiating table,” he stressed.
The former PTI leader said he would fully play his role in easing tensions, adding that he had already met senior PML-N leaders at a very high level. “In the coming days you will hear good and positive news,” he said.
He said people who have connections with both sides should be included in the dialogue process to help end the atmosphere of tension. “To reduce political tensions, political parties and the establishment must all sit down together,” he added.
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Fawad clarified that he still considers himself part of the PTI, saying: “I do not want to comment on those who show political immaturity. The true supporters of Imran Khan will be happy with our progress.”
He revealed that in the first phase, efforts were being made to release prisoners held in Lahore jails. “The country is deeply divided and, in this situation, the politics of reconciliation is the only way forward,” he said. The move comes after former PTI leaders recently met PTI Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi at a hospital, where, they said, Qureshi endorsed efforts to lower the political temperature.
Last week, speaking to a private news channel, Fawad claimed that PTI leaders – Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Ejaz Chaudhry, Yasmin Rashid and Mehmoodur Rasheed – had jointly written a letter several months ago calling for reconciliation.
He said the letter reflected a common position among detained leaders that the confrontation had reached a point of diminishing returns. “The position of these leaders was that confrontation must give way to reconciliation,” he said.
He added that only a handful of high-ranking figures had the stature to meaningfully engage Imran Khan. “Only Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Rashid, Ejaz, Rasheed and Omar Cheema can communicate effectively with Imran. There is a distance between Imran and others,” he claimed.
