ISLAMABAD: The opposition PTI on Sunday confirmed that interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, even as Aleema Khan denied reports that Imran Khan’s family had any knowledge of or role in the meeting.

Speculation about the meeting had been circulating since Sunday morning, with reports suggesting that Barrister Gohar, Chief Minister Afridi and Aleema Khan had met the interior minister.

By the evening, Aleema Khan confirmed that a meeting had taken place. “Barrister Gohar and Sohail Afridi met Mohsin Naqvi. Our family had no knowledge of this meeting and neither was any family member present,” she said in a post on X.

But PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed that a meeting was held with the interior minister.

“It is incorrect that Aleema Khan was part of the meeting. Only the KP chief minister and Barrister Gohar attended the meeting, and it was regarding terrorist attacks in KP, especially in Bannu,” he told Dawn.

Mr Akram said the interior minister mainly discussed how terrorism could be controlled.

Another senior PTI leader, asking not to be named, claimed that the meeting was held on May 14 at around 9pm.

The PTI leader insisted that it was difficult for the party to publicly admit the meeting because doing so could affect chances of future contacts with the powers that be.

Asked about details of the meeting, the leader claimed that one major focus was to allow meetings of Imran Khan’s family and party leaders with him and to start his medical treatment at a hospital of PTI’s choice.

He also claimed that the interior minister expressed annoyance over a speech delivered by CM Afridi at a public meeting in Quetta and made it clear that the KP chief minister was not among the “favourite persons”.

Last week, during a press conference, Chief Minister Afridi was asked whether he had met an important personality. “I can meet anyone for Imran Khan,” he replied, without confirming whether any such meeting had taken place.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026