PTI says continued restrictions on meeting their founder violate basic political rights.
PTI Turns to NA Speaker as Government Continues to Block Access to Imran Khan
Political tensions reached another peak on Friday when a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation, led by Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, met National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Their demand was simple and lawful:
Allow family members and party leaders to meet their own party founder — a constitutional right repeatedly denied.
Despite weeks of appeals, PTI maintains that the government has systematically blocked all attempts at access, deepening concerns about transparency and Imran Khan’s well-being.
A Delegation United and Determined
The PTI team including senior leaders Asad Qaiser, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Latif Khosa, Amjad Ali Khan, Shahram Tarakai, and others, conveyed a message of urgency and frustration.
Gohar Ali Khan pressed the matter bluntly:
“You are a senior politician. You have helped before, please play your role again so this meeting can finally take place.”
The delegation made it clear that the total blackout on access has raised legitimate fears and that such restrictions have no place in a democratic system.
Speaker Calls PTI Back to Committees, But PTI Prioritises Justice
Ayaz Sadiq urged the PTI to rejoin standing committees and parliamentary proceedings. While PTI acknowledged the importance of parliamentary participation, they were firm:
Parliamentary work cannot continue normally while the party founder remains in isolated detention.
PTI leaders reiterated that the government has repeatedly refused meetings that are guaranteed under the jail manual a rulebook that the state itself insists must be followed.
Dialogue Cannot Be One-Sided
The speaker expressed his desire for negotiations, but PTI reminded him that dialogue requires sincerity from both sides.
Government officials have delayed meetings, ignored court orders, and shown little willingness to address core issues, particularly the unlawful restrictions on Imran Khan’s visitation rights.
Despite these obstacles, PTI agreed that political engagement remains essential but only when conducted in good faith.
Asad Qaiser: Parliament Will Not Function if Basic Rights Are Denied
Speaking to media, PTI leader Asad Qaiser delivered a clear, firm warning:
“We have conveyed our demands. If access to the PTI founder and other key issues are not resolved, parliament will not be allowed to function.”
He stressed that all meetings must be allowed according to the prison manual — no selective implementation, no political victimisation.
Qaiser also confirmed that PTI has demanded issuance of the official notification naming their opposition leader, a procedural requirement the government has dragged its feet on.
PTI’s Next Moves
The opposition delegation is scheduled to meet the chairman of the Senate on Monday, intensifying efforts to break the government-imposed blockade.
One thing is clear:
PTI is no longer willing to tolerate systemic suppression, legal violations, and closed-door politics aimed at isolating the most popular political leader in the country.