Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social media team for spreading “hatred and negative propaganda” in the country, labeling it the “biggest hurdle” in mending ties with political parties and the establishment.
Sanaullah made this statement while speaking on Geo News program “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath.”
The premier’s aide stated that the former ruling party became a victim of its own social media brigade, nurtured by its founding chairman Imran Khan, for use against his political rivals.
His comments come amid reports of backchannel efforts by US-based Pakistanis who held meetings with senior officials during their visit to the country, seeking relief for the incarcerated former prime minister, according to The News.
Sanaullah said he could neither confirm nor deny the occurrence of such meetings by a delegation of overseas Pakistanis.
Expressing his views on the matter, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that the incumbent government has no apprehension about the PTI’s purported backchannel talks.
He further stated that such meetings would not yield any results unless the PTI offers a sincere apology for the May 9th riots, as demanded by the chief military spokesperson last year.
According to The News, a group of US-based Pakistani doctors and businessmen met with a senior official in Islamabad and the PTI founder in Adiala jail.
These interactions are part of the PTI and its sympathizers’ efforts to seek some relief for Imran Khan. These backchannel efforts are in addition to the behind-the-scenes negotiations that have taken place between the PTI and relevant quarters.
A source familiar with the recent interactions between US-based Pakistani doctors and businessmen with Imran Khan and a key official said that the success of these efforts depends on the behavior of the PTI’s social media and Imran Khan’s conduct.
In today’s show, Sanaullah blamed former Prime Minister Khan for destroying political harmony by spreading hatred, revenge, and propaganda, adding that the PTI is trapped in problems created by itself, not by the incumbent government.
Regarding negotiations, Sanaullah said it is solely the PTI’s responsibility to take the initiative in resolving political disputes through dialogue.
Earlier today, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan clarified that his party is not in contact with the US delegation that arrived in Pakistan.
The Imran Khan-founded party also dissociated itself from a bipartisan bill introduced in the US House of Representatives seeking sanctions against Pakistani state officials.
Reacting to the bipartisan bill, Gohar told reporters at the Parliament House that his party has no connection with legislation in the US Congress.
His comment came after two US lawmakers in the House of Representatives last month sought sanctions against Pakistani state officials through the bill titled “Pakistan Democracy Act” over alleged human rights violations, including the “persecution” of former Prime Minister Khan.
The bill aims to invoke the US Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which allows the US to deny visas and entry to individuals accused of committing human rights violations.
