Imran Khan to Meet PTI Leaders in Adiala Jail Amid Concerns

Summary:

• Imran Khan has instructed PTI members Atif Khan and Junaid Akbar to visit him in Adiala jail as internal disputes and corruption allegations affect the party.
• The directive comes amid turmoil following Shakeel Ahmad Khan’s resignation and accusations of corruption within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
• Khan aims to address these issues and unify the party, with a new committee formed to tackle corruption in the province.

Imran Khan, the incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has called for a meeting with key party members Atif Khan and Junaid Akbar at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. This move comes in response to growing concerns about internal conflicts and allegations of corruption within the party. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, confirmed the development, noting Khan’s desire to address the “impression” of factionalism within PTI.

The party has been in disarray following the resignation of Shakeel Ahmad Khan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Communication and Works. Khan resigned after accusing the provincial government, led by CM Ali Amin Gandapur, of corruption and mismanagement. His resignation followed complaints he made directly to Khan in jail, leading the former Prime Minister to warn party members about accountability for corruption.

In response to the turmoil, PTI has formed a three-member committee to oversee corruption and governance issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tensions escalated as Atif Khan and Junaid Akbar supported Shakeel Ahmad Khan, which reportedly displeased the KP government. The situation has led to Akbar’s removal from the accountability committee, which was initially formed to address these concerns.

The KP Chief Minister’s adviser, Barrister Saif, noted that Khan had previously warned of no tolerance for corruption and had promised to form a committee to investigate the allegations. Despite Ahmad’s resignation, which was expected to resolve the matter, the impression of party discord has persisted.

Khan’s recent directive aims to stabilize the party and address the internal strife, signaling his ongoing involvement in PTI’s affairs despite his incarceration.