Imran Khan, the chairman of the PTI and a former prime minister, was paid a visit by former US diplomat and CIA expert Robin Raphael on Sunday in Banigala.
Sources reported that both parties spoke about issues of common concern, primarily the context of US-Pakistan relations. Dr. Shehzad Waseem, the leader of the opposition in the Senate, was also present. No PTI leader, spokesperson, or central media department commented on the meeting.
On September 8, Donald Blome, the US ambassador to Pakistan, met with Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, senior vice president of PTI and a former minister of information.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Robin Raphel to the position of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
Interaction between PTI leadership and US officials is interpreted as an effort to strengthen ties with Washington.
It was widely reported in the media a few weeks ago that the PTI had paid a US lobbying and PR firm $25,000 per month to handle its public and media relations in the country.
According to paperwork submitted to the US Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), lobbying firm Fenton/Arlook will offer public relations services. Still, the services will not be limited to informing journalists and briefing them, placing articles and broadcasts, setting up interviews with PTI representatives or supporters, offering social media strategy advice, and other similar services.
A six-month agreement has been inked between the company and PTI-USA Inc. According to the contract, the customer excludes PTI, a political party with registration in Pakistan. according to the FARA documentation under its terms, PTI USA is occasionally directed by a foreign political party in Pakistan.
Similarly, it has been reported and discussed in political circles as well as in formal and unofficial media that an American consulting firm that was employed by PTI to advocate and offer advice on Pakistan-US relations and is headed by a former CIA station chief in Islamabad has come to light.
When PTI was still in power last year, Grenier Consulting LLC engaged Robert Laurent Grenier. Iftikhar ur Rehman Durrani executed the contract with the company in July 2021 “under the supervision of senior [PTI] party leaders and under the guidance of Pakistan government officials.”
