(Web Desk) — Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid on Thursday claimed that Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is unlikely to be released from imprisonment soon.
“They won’t allow PTI founder to be released at this moment,” Rashid stated while addressing the media at a district and sessions court in Islamabad.
Khan, who has been incarcerated since August last year and is serving multiple sentences, may have an opportunity for release if a district and sessions court rules in his favor on his plea seeking suspension of his sentence in the iddat case today.
Previously, the former premier, who has secured relief in the £190 million reference, cipher, and Toshakhana cases, was sentenced to seven years in prison along with his wife, Bushra Bibi, after a trial court deemed their nikah fraudulent in February this year.
However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has expressed intentions to keep Khan behind bars. An advisor to the Prime Minister stated on Geo News’ program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that Khan’s primary goal is to destabilize the country and spread chaos, which is why the government will try to prolong his imprisonment.
“Imran Khan’s main agenda is to destabilize the country and spread chaos and anarchy, hence for the betterment of the country, he should be kept behind bars,” the official added.
The issue of Khan’s release has also caused internal strife within PTI, with 21 lawmakers hinting at forming a forward bloc due to the party’s leadership’s failure to secure the release of Khan and other leaders, sources told Geo News on Wednesday.
“More than 27 PTI lawmakers held consultations after Shehryar Afridi’s statement about his resignation. Shandana Gulzar Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, and several other lawmakers also protested over the incompetence of the party’s top leadership,” the sources added.
Sheikh Rashid also commented on the broader political scenario, claiming that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif would change his narrative by the end of July. Citing sources, Geo News reported that the three-time former prime minister has decided to play an active role in national politics, holding more meetings with party leaders and workers to strengthen the political system.
