Pakistan's former Prime Minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has confirmed that he has been 'offered' to be released if his party calls off a planned protest in the capital Islamabad on November 24. Imran Khan also said that Pakistan government has given this proposal to the top leaders of PTI.
According to the report of the Pakistani media Geo News, while talking to reporters at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday, he said that he was informed that “if he accepts the terms of the proposal, everything will be fine”.
Imran Khan's lawyer Khalid Yusuf Chowdhury and sister Alima Khan said on November 19 that Imran Khan had allowed PTI's current chairman Barrister Gahar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to discuss with the 'powerful circles'.
Meanwhile, two meetings have already been held between the government and PTI representatives on the possibility of talks, Pakistani media The News reported. If initial talks are successful, the November 24 protest program may be suspended through formal dialogue.
Imran Khan said, 'I have received a proposal through Gahar and Gandapur that everything will be fine if the protest is suspended. But I demanded the release of the party leaders, but no action was taken.' He claimed, 'This proves that they are not serious about the talks.' He further said, 'There was a golden opportunity to release after getting bail from the Islamabad High Court, but the government did not do it.'
Imran Khan accused the government and said that the government has turned the country into a 'banana republic' through the cases filed against him. He called on lawyers, workers, judges and civil society to take to the streets on November 24, saying that the protest will be 100% successful. At this time, he also said, 'those who have real power, they have made everything happen.'
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur told Geo News, 'There is no discussion with the government about the protest. There will be no discussion until Imran Khan is freed.'
Meanwhile, in response to such claims, Pakistan's Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said, “The protest of November 24 is mainly aimed at obtaining benefits.” Addressing the PTI leaders, he said, 'You have broken the law, and the law will deal with you.'
On the other hand, the PTI claimed that the current coalition government came to power by rigging the February elections. The PTI has held several protests as part of the months-long political conflict over this. Imran Khan recently called for 'ultimate' protests, protesting election rigging, arrests of leaders and activists and the passing of the 26th Amendment Act.
