GUJRAT: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf President and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has broken his silence since his release from jail last year at an event here on Sunday and termed PTI founder Imran Khan a great leader after the Quaid-i-Azam and at the same time praised the armed forces for defending the country’s borders.

He was speaking to a gathering of local party leaders and former PTI lawmakers at Kunjah house, the residence of his son Moonis Elahi, a former federal minister who has been in self-imposed exile since January 2023.

Former Punjab education minister Imran Masood also spoke on the occasion whereas Rasikh Elahi, the youngest son of Parvez Elahi and Sameera Elahi Chohan were also present.

Elahi said after huge votes bagged by the Quaid, it was Imran Khan who had secured a heavy mandate in Pakistan.

“When the nation and army required support, it was Imran Khan and me who issued statements supporting the armed forces of Pakistan.”

He said that Pakistan’s armed forces had rendered great sacrifices and soldiers laid down their lives for the sake of country’s victory and the whole nation was commending the role of forces in safeguarding the country.

He said Imran Khan had been the “most popular leader who was in the jail and we all united for the nation whereas the country’s institutions would also be with that leader who was a better choice for Pakistan.”

Criticising the PML-N leadership, the PTI leader said that those who had been claiming that Mian Nawaz Sharif had designed the recent war, should know that their leader did not utter a single word against Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

“The PML-N leadership has been trying to fool the people but, infect, they are the fools themselves as the masses are awake and have enough awareness of such matters,” Mr Elahi said and added: “thanks God that the PML-N had not made a claim that the dream of Allama Muhammad Iqbal had actually been seen by Nawaz Sharif.”

The two-time former Punjab CM, Elahi has been keeping mum since his release from the jail in May 2024 as he avoided such activities and speeches in public.

However, one of the participants of that gathering commented while talking to Dawn that Mr Elahis’s praise both for Imran Khan and armed forces at the same time seems to be an effort to create an environment to bridge the gap between the powerful establishment and the jailed former prime minister.

Parvez Elahi is the only among senior PTI leaders who were released from the jail.

Earlier, in a conversation with the media after offering Eid prayers in Gujrat, Ch Parvez Elahi said that all major countries should take notice of Israel’s oppression.

“The entire Muslim community should courageously confront Israeli terrorism. I pray that Allah Almighty may help Palestinian and Kashmiri Muslims.

He said the whole world is recognizing that the Pakistani Air Force has proven its combat superiority over India.

He said Narendra Modi is becoming a threat to the peace and tranquility of South Asia.

He said solution to the Kashmir issue has become essential for sustainable world peace. “If US President Trump can resolve the Kashmir issue, he should do so because until the Kashmir issue is resolved, the war atmosphere between Pakistan and India will not end.”

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2025