PTI Leader Advocates Political Stability, Requests Meeting with Imran Khan
LAHORE: Amid growing discussions about imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and banning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), incarcerated PTI leader and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi cautioned against such measures, stating they could harm the country’s political landscape.
Speaking informally to journalists at an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Qureshi said, “Crushing PTI is detrimental to the nation’s politics.” He added that imposing governor’s rule in KP would further deepen divisions and spread hatred within the province.
Speculations on Governor’s Rule and Ban on PTI
Speculations have been circulating that the federal cabinet, as hinted by Prime Minister’s aide Rana Sanaullah, discussed the possibility of governor’s rule in KP following PTI-led protests in the federal capital. However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif denied such intentions, saying there were no plans to impose governor’s rule in the province.
Qureshi also warned against banning the PTI, calling it a “grave mistake” and thanked key political figures, including PPP, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai, for opposing the idea.
JUI-F’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman reiterated his opposition to governor’s rule, stating that while constitutionally permissible, it would not solve the problems in KP or Balochistan. Similarly, PPP Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza emphasized bringing PTI back into the national political mainstream instead of sidelining it.
Water Dispute and Political Protests
During the interaction, Qureshi addressed the ongoing water crisis, noting that multiple political parties are staging protests over the issue. Recently, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah firmly opposed the proposal to dig six additional canals from the Indus River, stating, “Not a single drop of Sindh’s water will be given away. We will protect our rights without infringing on others’.”
Plea for Meeting with Imran Khan
Qureshi also requested the court to facilitate a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. In a recent sarcastic remark, he urged PTI’s leadership to visit him at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, “if they can spare the time.”
The PTI leader’s statements come at a time of heightened political tension, with increasing calls for dialogue and resolution to address the pressing issues facing the nation.
