RAWALPINDI:
Former prime minister Imran Khan has warned that rising tensions with Afghanistan could increase the threat of terrorism. He has laid stress on finding a political, not a military solution to the issue.
“Imran said the PTI strongly condemns all forms of terrorism but believes that the solution lies in political dialogue. Military strikes in Afghanistan could lead to increased terrorist activity in Pakistan,” said PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan after meeting with the PTI founder at Adiala Jail on Tuesday.
Gohar was speaking to the media outside the prison facility along with Senator Ali Zafar and Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif. Earlier, the PTI leaders met with the party founder during the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case, whose proceedings were also held in a courtroom inside the jail.
According to the PTI chairman, Imran said, “The army is ours, and the martyrs are ours. The blood of ordinary citizens must not be shed, but the end of terrorism must come through political means.”
Imran was referring to the ongoing tensions with neighbouring Afghanistan, which on Saturday attacked the Pakistan Army’s check posts along the entire western border.
The army later retaliated and killed around 200 Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan operatives. Twenty-three Pakistani soldiers also embraced martyrdom in the exchange of fire.
The PTI founder, the leaders said, stated that he has no enmity with the military, noting that many members of his family serve in the armed forces. “Distributing certificates of treason must stop,” Imran was quoted as saying.
Barrister Saif added that Imran Khan also condemned violence against the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leaders and workers and urged peaceful protest against such incidents.
Authorities in Punjab on Monday cracked down on a TLP protest march in Muridke. According to the Punjab Police, five people, including three TLP workers and a policeman, were killed in the crackdown.
The leader said it was their first meeting with the party founder after the change of chief minister in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), where the PTI is in power.
They added that Imran Khan thanked all MPAs for electing his new pick, Sohail Afridi, as the new CM and also praised the former CM Ali Amin Gandapur for his leadership.
According to them, Imran Khan stated that the government belongs to those who hold the public mandate, and expressed hope that the oath-taking issue in the K-P would be resolved smoothly.
Imran also congratulated all party officials and emphasised that whoever he nominates will become the chief minister, as the K-P remains the PTI’s political stronghold.
During the media interaction, a journalist asked Gohar Ali Khan as to what was the disagreement between the PTI and the military when both insisted on implementing the National Action Plan (NAP)adopted after the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.
Gohar replied that “people” were creating confusion without reading NAP, clarifying that the PTI’s January All-Parties Conference press release also mentioned the NAP and targeted operations.
He also reminded reporters that Imran Khan himself had signed the original NAP, emphasising that the PTI seeks unity, not confrontation.
Speaking to the media near Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan, sister of Imran Khan, said the PTI is a major political party with workers across the country. She said a new political reality has emerged after February 8, 2024 general elections, and “everyone now recognises it.”
Aleema revealed that Imran Khan had repeatedly advised former K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur about a particular matter but it was not implemented.
She quoted Imran Khan as saying that Pakistan should hold talks with Afghanistan instead of launching military operations. “Imran Khan is regarded as a great leader around the world – perhaps you don’t realise that,” she told reporters. “Recognise and respect such a great leader,” she added.
