The PTI announced on Wednesday that it would hold a “national conference” later this month, where a “national agenda” would be presented.
The development comes days after ISPR DG Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry assailed Imran Khan for creating and spreading an “anti-army” rhetoric, stating that such narratives were now out of the realm of politics and had become a “national security threat”.
Since then, a war of words continued between the leaders of the ruling PML-N and PTI over the presser, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif saying Imran had used “harsh language” in the past for members of the opposition. He insisted that the party had no right to object to the comments by the military’s spokesman, while the opposition party emphatically deplored “ridiculous” remarks by the military spokesperson against ex-premier Imran Khan, saying he was “not a security threat”.
The announcement was made by PTI leader Asad Qaiser after a meeting of the party’s parliamentary group at the Parliament House.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament, he said the conference was scheduled for December 20-21.
When asked about the conference’s agenda, the former speaker said the country was “facing serious issues” of instability and uncertainty.
“Being an opposition alliance, it is the responsibility of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) to invite political parties, bar associations, civil society, media and other stakeholders to get together for brainstorming and finding a way forward,” said Qaiser while speaking to the media.
Elaborating further, the senior PTI leader said the situation was tense on the country’s international borders and commercial activity, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had declined.
Meanwhile, police used a water cannon early Wednesday to disperse a sit-in led by Aleema Khan outside Adiala Jail after authorities declined permission for a meeting with the incarcerated Former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.
Police confirmed that several PTI workers were detained during the operation. The force of the water displaced protesters from the main road to an adjacent empty plot, while traffic routes around the jail were reopened after the area was cleared.
PTI MNA Shahid Khattak sustained a leg fracture after slipping into a drain during the commotion. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors applied a plaster and advised a month of bed rest.
Aleema Khan said the group would return next Tuesday to continue their protest. Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan criticised the police action, saying the use of high-pressure and freezing cold water at pre-dawn hours endangered the safety for all, especially for women and elderly participants.
Protesters continued chanting slogans throughout the operation, calling for permission to meet the former PTI chief. Authorities have not commented on whether such access will be granted.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali warned that if one “step is taken against them,” the consequences could spiral beyond anyone’s control.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Barrister Gohar said, “This is not a business where if one is taken away, the other remains. If one goes down, no one will be left. Water cannons were even used against Imran Khan’s sisters. Enough is enough.”