LAHORE: Expressing concerns over alleged threats to the life of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, the party’s general secretary in Punjab, Hammad Azhar, said that he would make an “important announcement” at the Swabi public meeting on Monday (today).

Mr Azhar, currently in hiding, said in a post on X that Mr Khan had already survived an assassination attempt during the party’s long march. He demanded an immediate medical check-up for Mr Khan and insisted that the nation should be informed about his health status.

“The most popular and towering leader of the Muslim ummah has been deliberately imprisoned in such conditions by petty and fake rulers where his health is deteriorating,” Mr Azhar said.

PTI leader Moonis Elahi also tweeted that Mr Khan had himself said he was being given substandard food in jail, which was causing him to feel unwell. “All of this is happening on the orders of Maryam Nawaz,” Mr Elahi alleged, adding that only the PML-N could stoop so low.

In another development, PTI and SIC have decided to convene a joint parliamentary party meeting next week. The meeting will discuss the strategy for the upcoming Punjab Assembly session on Aug 11, the oath-taking of those nominated for reserved seats and plans for the “Awami Assembly” meeting outside the assembly premises.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024