LAHORE: PML-N leader Khwaja Saad Rafique has requested the federal government to allow a meeting between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and the incarcerated party founder Imran Khan to avert protest announced by the PTI in Islamabad for Tuesday (today).

Citing media reports, Rafique wrote on ‘X’ on Monday that the PTI leadership has set the condition of being allowed a meeting with Mr Khan in Adiala Jail for withdrawing its Oct 15 protest call. “The government should arrange a meeting of Imran Khan with the PTI leaders,” he suggested.

The PML-N leader added that the PTI might come up with another “excuse” for staging the protest despite being allowed the meeting with Khan, but the government should not provide the party any reason for resorting to agitation in the federal capital, where a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is scheduled for Tuesday (today).

Mr Rafique, who appears dissatisfied with the course of ‘power politics’ chosen by his party’s leadership, said the PTI had a history of creating disturbances during the visits by foreign guests to Pakistan.

“Pitting its workers against law enforcement agencies on a regular basis is a highly dangerous move [by the PTI]. A physical clash and confrontation should be avoided to prevent public embarrassment,” he said and urged the PTI to withdraw its protest call unconditionally.

Earlier this month, while addressing a ceremony in Lahore, Saad Rafique had said: “Flattery and false praise ruin even the most capable political leaders.

Gaining power with the support of the establishment has long been political leaders’ favourite pastime.”

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2024