Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday postponed its protest in Islamabad due on Tuesday (today) after accepting the government’s offer.
The sources said that the decision to delay the protest was made during a meeting of the PTI’s political committee, chaired by Barrister Gohar, which was held online.
During the meeting, consultations were held regarding the government’s offer for a medical examination of PTI’s founder by doctors from PIMS Hospital.
Earlier, the reports had emerged that the government accepted PTI’s condition to postpone the protest, agreeing to allow medical examinations for PTI founder Imran Khan, who is imprisoned in Adiala Jail.
The sources said that doctors would conduct the examination of the PTI founder in Adiala Jail on Monday morning, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed PTI leadership about the government’s decision.
The sources said that the doctors from PIMS Hospital are scheduled to examine the PTI founder in Adiala Jail tomorrow morning.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had announced that the party is fully prepared to hold a protest demonstration in Islamabad on October 15 after the government refused to grant permission to PTI leaders to meet their jailed founder, Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Gandapur said, “We are heading to Islamabad today for the protest, and we are fully prepared.” He expressed deep concern over Imran Khan’s health, stating that the government’s restrictions are forcing PTI to take to the streets.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, criticised the government for denying PTI members the right to meet Imran Khan. “It is our constitutional right to meet with him, but the government is imposing unnecessary restrictions,” Ayub said. He added that if the permission is not granted, PTI will go ahead with its planned protest in Islamabad.
According to a ministry spokesperson, a ban on prisoner meetings is in place due to security concerns surrounding the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Allowing such a meeting could lead to claims of unequal treatment for other prisoners. The spokesperson added that Adiala Jail, where Khan is held, has suspended all visits until October 18.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has tied the postponement of its planned protest on October 15 to a condition: if a meeting with Imran Khan or his representatives is arranged by October 14, the protest will be delayed. PTI leaders, during a core committee meeting, expressed concerns about Khan’s health, with party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram stressing that a brief meeting could resolve the issue.
However, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has rejected PTI’s demands.
