Amid rising terror incidents in border areas, former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to visit Kabul for peace talks with the Taliban interim government.
In a statement issued via his personal account, which he does not directly control while in jail, the PTI founder criticized the army chief’s “short-sighted policies,” claiming they had undermined the peace achieved during his government. He also condemned the deportation of Afghan nationals, arguing that Pakistan should be aiding Afghanistan, particularly after its recent earthquake, rather than expelling refugees.
Imran said Gandapur must engage Afghan leaders to prevent further deterioration of security and insisted the chief minister had every right to travel for peace efforts.
He denounced ongoing military operations, drone strikes, and forced displacements in KP as deliberate attempts to weaken the provincial government, warning that such measures would worsen terrorism and inflict more suffering on people already devastated by floods.
Separately, PTI expressed concern over Bushra Bibi’s health, alleging prison authorities were denying her proper medical treatment despite court orders. The party vowed to petition the Supreme Court to ensure her immediate access to a private specialist.
Meanwhile, Rawalpindi police intensified action against PTI leaders, adding Section 21 of the Anti-Terrorism Act to a case over an attack on a journalist outside Adiala Jail. Two suspects were arrested, while raids to apprehend others were ongoing.
Imran’s sister Aleema Khan and over 40 PTI supporters were nominated in the case, facing charges of robbery, rioting, and issuing death threats. Police explained that Section 21 allows cordoning off areas to aid investigations and grants security forces authority to use necessary force after warning. The unrest followed earlier incidents, including eggs thrown at Aleema Khan during a media talk outside the jail.
