Imran Khan
RAWALPINDI: Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has instructed his party’s leadership and supporters to prepare for a “major nationwide movement” aimed at toppling the current coalition government. The announcement was relayed by his sister, Aleema Khan, during her interaction with journalists outside Adiala Jail on Monday.
Aleema Khan clarified that Khan had no intention of calling supporters to Islamabad. Instead, he envisioned a broad-based protest campaign across the entire country. While she did not disclose a specific launch date for the movement, she confirmed that the PTI founder had conveyed three key messages during their meeting.
According to her, Imran Khan remains defiant despite his incarceration. “Even if I am kept in jail for life, I will not bow down,” he reportedly told her. She also highlighted the severe restrictions imposed on him, claiming that even the basic rights afforded to ordinary prisoners are being denied.
In the past eight months, Khan has been allowed to speak to his children only once and is routinely denied meetings with his sisters. Additionally, Aleema stated that the prison authorities do not permit books to be sent to him, and his personal physician is not allowed to examine him.
Khan also made it clear that there is no room in PTI for those who “play on both sides of the wicket,” a clear signal to party members about loyalty during turbulent times.
Despite the call for mass mobilization, there are also indications that PTI is exploring avenues for political dialogue. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif are actively involved in preliminary discussions aimed at reinitiating talks with the government.
These efforts had stalled earlier due to escalated tensions between Pakistan and India, but recent political developments suggest a shift in tone.
Barrister Saif, who recently met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, reportedly received important instructions from the PTI founder regarding the possible course of negotiations. While Saif denied that any formal talks were currently underway, he confirmed that efforts for Imran Khan’s release remain active.
In a significant development, Khan has agreed to consider initiating talks with the government following a public invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, the PTI founder has insisted that any discussions should be held away from media scrutiny to ensure sincere and result-oriented outcomes.
This dual approach—mass mobilization alongside quiet diplomacy—signals that Imran Khan is recalibrating PTI’s political strategy amid ongoing challenges, including his prolonged detention and internal party pressures. The coming weeks may prove critical in shaping both PTI’s future trajectory and the broader political landscape in Pakistan.
