Islamabad: Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, has demanded a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan without the presence of any institutional interference, as part of the ongoing negotiations.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside senior PTI leaders, Ayub emphasized that during the second round of talks, the party had made it clear that they wanted a direct meeting with Imran Khan, free from institutional involvement.
“We have not received any information from the government so far. On December 5, the founder chairman set up a negotiation committee, and we will not tolerate any interference from institutions,” Ayub said.
The opposition leader expressed concern over the ongoing institutional involvement, reiterating PTI’s demand for a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9 and November 26. He also stated that Imran Khan had forgiven those who had caused him suffering, highlighting that during the second session of the negotiating committee, it was agreed to facilitate a meeting with Khan.
Ayub further asserted that the government’s seriousness in negotiations would be judged by its willingness to meet PTI’s demands, including providing an opportunity for a free and independent meeting with the party’s founder.
During the press conference, PTI Chairman Imran Khan also addressed the ongoing case regarding the Al-Qadir Trust, rejecting claims that court delays were due to any potential deal. He reiterated his call for a swift verdict, asserting that no evidence had been presented linking him to any financial wrongdoing or harm to the government through the trust.
Senator Shibli Faraz, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, expressed concerns over the delay in the Al-Qadir Trust decision, calling for its immediate resolution. Faraz claimed that political motivations lay behind the cases being filed against Imran Khan, stressing that PTI was not seeking mercy but was standing firm against political persecution.
Barrister Gohar, another PTI leader, claimed that over 200 cases had been filed against Imran Khan, converting their victories into defeats. He added that PTI had engaged in negotiations with the government for the welfare of the people, not for any deal.
Suleman Akram Raja, a senior PTI legal advisor, echoed the party’s demand for the release of all political prisoners, insisting that justice should be served for the violence and deaths that occurred. He warned that Pakistan’s future would be in jeopardy if events like the February 8 incident were allowed to repeat. Raja also reaffirmed PTI’s commitment to seeking a fair trial for Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Al-Qadir Trust case, asserting that they had gained no personal benefit from the trust.
In conclusion, Raja emphasized that PTI would continue to fight for votes and the rights of the people, and would not back down from its demands, including the establishment of a commission to investigate the events of November 26 and the February 8 incident.
