Rana says narrative put forward by PTI against state institutions after meeting its founder ‘unacceptable’
Rana Sanaullah. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that meetings of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan with his family and relatives should be allowed on the condition that no new date or call for a protest is given after February 8.
Imran has been jailed since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. Additionally, he faces pending lawsuits under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. Meetings with his family members, which normally occur on Tuesdays, have not been permitted.
Meanwhile, the PTI has announced a lockdown and jam strike on February 8 to mark two years since the 2024 general elections.
In an interview on ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ program on a private broadcaster, Sanaullah said a meeting tomorrow with one of Imran’s sisters could be possible, but said nothing to that effect was discussed in the talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
He supported the jail administration’s decision to not allow gatherings if Imran “wants to add fuel to the fire” before February 8.
“If a new date is not given after February 8, then it should happen and there is no reason not to allow a meeting.”
However, Sanaullah stated that press conferences or positions against the institutions and their leaders after the meetings were “unacceptable.”
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“A narrative against institutions that are sacrificing their lives cannot be tolerated. PTI must take a step back. If PTI wants to continue with all this, then it must do so against the government or political parties,” he said.
On Imran’s health, Sanaullah said he was receiving the best possible medical care “in accordance with his position” and described claims to the contrary as baseless propaganda.
Commenting on the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz and CM Afridi, Sanaullah said the discussion took place in a congenial atmosphere and focused on a two-point agenda.
“We both have different parties, ideologies and approaches, therefore we will not condition anything on any other issue; let us put this issue aside, let us come and discuss Pakistan,” Sanaullah quoted the prime minister as saying.
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On the recent attacks in Balochistan, Sanaullah said the government had a comprehensive counter-terrorism policy and the army was fully capable and in control of the situation. He said all the attackers had been killed.
“The only objective of the attacks is to destabilize the country and damage Pakistan’s reputation as a state,” he added.
