Leadership Cites Government Assurances on Imran’s Health
ISLAMABAD: In a late decision, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called off its planned protest at D-Chowk scheduled for today, October 15, after the government met its demands.
The party also cited the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit as a reason for the change in plans.
PTI’s political committee reached the decision during a meeting where the majority urged a halt to the protest, given the significance of the summit. Earlier, PTI’s parliamentary group had suggested postponing the protest if a meeting between PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and the party’s founder could be secured.
The committee agreed to delay the protest if the government addressed PTI’s key concerns.
The protest preparations were in full swing, with orders issued to party workers to gather in Islamabad. PTI had also summoned its members to Swabi, indicating they were ready to move forward with the demonstration until the government met their demands.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had reached out to the party, assuring them that a medical examination of PTI founder Imran Khan would take place on Tuesday morning.
With this assurance, PTI has paused its protest. Gohar stated that a team of doctors would visit Imran Khan in jail for a detailed check-up, and since the party’s conditions were met, preparations were called off.
He clarified that the protest was always conditional and emphasized that it could be resumed if the government did not fully meet their demands. “We have postponed the protest, but it’s not off the table,” he said in a video statement.
Gohar also disclosed that Interior Minister Naqvi had assured the party that Imran Khan’s medical treatment access would be restored, with a team of doctors visiting him in Adiala Jail.
PTI leadership, satisfied with the government’s pledge, decided to stand down on the protest. Reports indicated that PTI had demanded that Imran’s sisters and doctors be allowed to visit him in jail due to health concerns.
Initially, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had rejected these demands, threatening stern action against any disruptions during the SCO summit. However, sources confirmed that the government ultimately agreed to a medical check-up for Imran Khan.
A medical team from PIMS is scheduled to visit Adiala Jail today for a thorough examination, along with Khan’s private physician.
Ahead of PTI’s protest call, police had conducted raids, and party members had gone into hiding to avoid arrests. The interior minister had also issued strict security orders for the SCO summit, prohibiting anygatherings in Islamabad.