• Parliamentary party meeting to use all forums for release of incarcerated chief
• PTI leader claims Imran’s social media not under party’s control

ISLAMABAD: As political tensions continue to escalate in the wake of a fiery press conference by the Pakistan Army’s spokesperson targeting former prime minister Imran Khan, the PTI parliamentary party on Monday said that excluding the party founder from politics would only weaken the political system.

After the joint parliamentary party meeting held in the federal capital, the PTI leaders discussed the recent political developments concerning the former ruling party and the ban on meetings with Imran Khan.

The meeting was attended by PTI lawmakers from both houses of parliament, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Barrister Ali Zafar, Ali Muhammad Khan, MNA Shahid Kattak. Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who is the PTI nominee for the National Assembly opposition leader slot, also participated.

Barrister Syed Ali Zafar told Dawn that the meeting discussed the current political situation and recent developments, including the unannounced ban on meetings with Imran Khan.

He said the participants of the meeting were of the opinion that Imran Khan was not a security risk, as claimed by the government and the army spokesperson.

“Khan sahib is essential for Pakistan’s stability, democracy, and future. His continued exclusion only weakens the political system and deepens national uncertainty,” he said, adding that the opposition lawmakers were united and resolute on this issue.

“We will use every constitutional, legal and parliamentary forum to secure the release of our leader.

The entire parliamentary party stands firmly behind Imran Khan,” he said. According to Barrister Zafar, the participants of the meeting demanded that they must be allowed unrestricted access to meet Imran Khan in jail.

They were of the view that denying elected representatives to meet their leader was unconstitutional, undemocratic and unacceptable.

“The solitary confinement and isolation of Bushra Bibi is a grave injustice. Subjecting a woman who has no political role to mental torture violates fundamental human rights and goes against our cultural and moral values. Such treatment is unprecedented and deeply disturbing,” he said while sharing the details of the meeting.

Barrister Ali Zafar said that the PTI parliamentary party will remain the strongest pillar of the ongoing movement. “The party will continue leading the democratic and constitutional struggle for justice, political freedom, and the restoration of the people’s mandate,” he said.

It may be noted that political tensions have been increasing across the country, especially after the press conference of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who claimed that Imran Khan was promoting a narrative against the armed forces.

He also used disparaging remarks against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, prompting the PTI to seek an apology from the army spokesperson.

On the other hand, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that negotiations would not be held with the PTI and in case the government agreed to talks, it would be held in parliament and without Imran Khan. Last week, Barrister Gohar had extended an olive branch, saying there was a need to soften tones to break the political deadlock.

Imran’s social media ‘not under’ party’s control

When questioned about the party founder’s social media accounts, PTI Chief Whip in the National Assembly Amir Dogar noted that the account is not under the party’s control, nor is it under Mr Khan’s. “Even today, in a parliamentary committee meeting, we agreed that messages from Imran in jail should not be disseminated like a vlogger outside the prison gates,” he said on a Geo News show. “The party realises that we need to do whatever we can to ensure the release of our leader and workers.”

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, while talking to Dawn, said that Mr Dogar’s statement had been misunderstood.

“He meant that there were several young members in the social media team, but after the crackdown they left the country and are now operating their accounts on their own,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said that whenever a leader or family member meets Imran Khan, the message is written on a piece of paper and then sent abroad, after which it is tweeted as it is.

“The messages are sent directly abroad and then tweeted. They are not issued through the party’s media wing, so the media wing has nothing to do with them,” he added.

It may be noted that the PTI chief does not have access to his social media handles in jail, but his X account is regularly updated after he meets his family members or party leaders.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2025