DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Wednesday urged the Chief Justice to take notice of growing concerns over the health of party founder Imran Khan, saying the party had no clear information about his condition and was being denied access to him.
Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC), he said Imran Khan’s health was a “red line” for the PTI and called for his family, lawyers and personal physicians to be allowed to meet him.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram maintained that the party would participate in the September 27 call as “one caravan”, while warning the federal government against what he described as attempts to create uncertainty over the health of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Mr Akram said reports concerning Mr Khan’s eye condition were accurate, but alleged that rumours about his overall health were being fuelled because meetings with him were not being allowed.
He warned the federal government against assuming that it would not be held accountable, saying the public would not forgive those responsible for what he described as restrictions on access to the PTI founder.
The PTI leader also called for CCTV footage relating to an incident at a police station to be preserved, saying his party would continue to pursue the matter and would not allow the case to “go cold”.
Taking a swipe at the ruling parties, Mr Akram said attempts by successive governments to politically sideline Imran Khan had failed to diminish his popularity among the people.
He said those who spoke about the sanctity of the vote should also recognise the “respect of voters”, claiming that the PTI had been deprived of its electoral mandate.
He rejected the possibility of an alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party and alleged that PTI workers in Punjab were being politically and administratively cornered.
Referring to recent political developments, he alleged that restrictions and curfews had been imposed around PTI rallies and that party workers had faced arrests and violence. He also claimed that women had been sentenced or arrested in what he called politically motivated cases.
Mr Akram alleged that Bushra Bibi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and other women had been implicated in false cases, and criticised what he described as the deteriorating condition of Pakistan’s prison system. The PTI leader also demanded a transparent investigation into the death of a party worker in Rawalpindi, saying the facts should be made public.
He criticised what he described as contradictory statements about the deceased and insisted that PTI workers did not believe in deliberately disrupting law and order.
“Whatever is wrong, we call it wrong,” he said, maintaining that the party would seek justice through legal and constitutional means rather than violence.
Mr Akram said peaceful protest was a constitutional and political right and vowed that the PTI would continue exercising it.
He also reiterated the party’s opposition to drone attacks, saying the position had been taken earlier on the instructions of Mr Khan and remained unchanged.
The PTI leader said differences could emerge within any large political party but claimed that workers and supporters remained committed to the party leadership.
He said the party would continue raising its demands through courts and peaceful political activity, while maintaining pressure for access to Imran Khan and resolution of his pending cases.
