ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has given go ahead to senior PTI members Ali Amin Gandapur and Barrister Gohar to hold negotiations with the establishment, Aleema Khan confirmed.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail after a meeting with Imran, Aleema relayed his message, calling for the nation to rally on November 24 in a show of solidarity, similar to the February 8 gathering, reported Express News.
“He said November 24 is a crucial day. We need to mobilise to reclaim our right to vote, just as we came out for our ideology earlier this year,” she stated.
According to Aleema, Imran Khan said, “The Constitution was violated by stealing votes. PTI became an ideological party on February 8. In 1970, we had ideological elections, but in 1985, Zia-ul-Haq introduced non-party elections, effectively ending ideological politics. On February 8, our freedom, party tickets, and even the party itself were taken from us. Since that polling day, there hasn’t been an election like the one on February 8 anywhere in the world.”
She also conveyed that Khan had directed PTI supporters to remain peaceful, saying, “We are not here to cause chaos. We are peacefully fighting for our ideological rights on November 24.”
During the meeting, Ali Amin Gandapur and Barrister Gohar sought permission to approach the establishment for talks, to which Khan agreed, stressing three key demands. “Imran said, ‘We are a political party and open to dialogue, but we will focus on our three core demands,’” she shared.
One of the demands, she noted, is the release of PTI members whom Imran described as “unjustly detained,” including Yasmin Rashid, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Umar Cheema.
Aleema noted that if Imran secures bail in the ongoing Toshakhana case, he intends to personally lead the November 24 demonstration.
Otherwise, PTI leaders and supporters will gather on his behalf. She called upon Islamabad and Rawalpindi residents to join the protest and expressed hope that talks with authorities would progress.
“If successful, the November 24 rally could turn into a celebration,” she said, adding that the government has until Thursday to respond.