LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said on Tuesday that jailed former premier Imran Khan had authorised Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) President Mahmood Khan Achakzai to hold negotiation with political parties and apart from that “we have not pleaded before anyone”.

Speaking to the media outside the anti-terrorism courts in Lahore, he said it was Defence Minister Khwaja Asif who pleaded with the former sector commander of Sialkot.

He said Mr Asif should have focused on Kashmir since India stated that there was no need for negotiations regarding Kashmir.

He said even his (Asif) own party members do not pay attention to what he says.

Court extends interim bail of opposition leader

“Khwaja Asif used to plead and cry, while we did not beg or plead with anyone,” he taunted the defence minister.

He said, “The government of PTI was overthrown in collusion with Gen Bajwa to get an NRO, destroying the country’s economy. We are not asking anyone for an NRO.”

He demanded that the CCTV footages of the May 9 protests should be made public so the truth will become clear.

“In the US, the footages of Capitol Hill events were released, but here they are not bringing it to light,” he added.

He further stated that one apologised for wrongdoing, but they (PTI) had not done anything wrong.

He also claimed that the country’s economy was thriving under the PTI’s government, but the ouster of Imran Khan destroyed a functioning economy in the process.

“How can we negotiate with those who destroyed the economy, including Qamar Bajwa and other parties?” he questioned.Earlier, ATC Judge Khalid Arshad extended the interim bail of Omar Ayub and others in the Jinnah House attack case till Sept 14.

The judge also approved applications of Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, former federal ministers Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry for one-day exemption from personal appearance.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024