Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail and Mahmood Moulvi are active again and planning meetings with political actors
Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders have reemerged on the political scene, initiating contacts with senior government figures in what is described as an effort to ease political tensions and seek relief for the party’s jailed founder, Imran Khan.
Khan has been jailed since August 2023 in multiple cases, including the £190m corruption reference in which he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, received a seven-year jail term.
As the former prime minister’s legal options narrow, no breakthrough in sight and internal divisions within the PTI reportedly deepen, a group of former party heavyweights have stepped forward in what they see as a last-ditch attempt to secure his release.
Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail and Mahmood Moulvi, all once considered close allies of Khan, have become active again and are planning a series of meetings with key political players to push for a reduction in political tension. The group is scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday, where discussions are expected to focus on restoring dialogue and reducing polarization.
Sources said the former PTI leaders are also planning meetings with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the schedules are currently being finalised. After completing these engagements, the group also intends to visit Adiala Jail to meet Imran Khan.
Chaudhry and Shujaat urged to calm political tension
Meanwhile, Fawad held an important meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. The two leaders discussed in detail ways to reduce rising political tensions in the country and promote reconciliation.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Fawad said Chaudhry Shujaat had called the dialogue essential to lowering the political temperature. “The country is currently witnessing extreme bitterness and division. In such a situation, all political forces must come to the negotiating table,” he observed.
The former PTI leader said he would play his full role in easing tensions, adding that he had already met very senior PML-N leaders. “In the next few days you will hear good and positive news,” he said.
He said people with connections to both sides should be included in the dialogue process to help end the atmosphere of tension. “To reduce political tension, political parties and the establishment must all sit together,” he added.
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Fawad clarified that he still considers himself a part of the PTI and said, “I don’t want to comment on those who show political immaturity. Imran Khan’s true supporters will be satisfied with our progress.”
He revealed that in the first phase, efforts are being made for the release of prisoners held in Lahore jails. “The country is deeply divided and, in this situation, the policy of reconciliation is the only way forward,” he said. The move comes after former PTI leaders recently met PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi at a hospital, where, they said, Qureshi backed efforts to lower the political temperature.
Last week, speaking on a private news channel, Fawad claimed that PTI leaders (Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Ejaz Chaudhry, Yasmin Rashid and Mehmoodur Rasheed) had jointly written a letter several months ago calling for reconciliation.
He said the letter reflected a shared stance among detained leaders that the confrontation had reached a point of diminishing returns. “The position of these leaders was that confrontation must give way to reconciliation,” he said.
He added that only a handful of senior figures had the stature to meaningfully engage with Imran Khan. “Only Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Rashid, Ejaz, Rasheed and Omar Cheema can communicate effectively with Imran. There is distance between Imran and the rest,” he said.
