Khawaja Asif, the Defence Minister, stated on Sunday that the PTI had delayed the August 22 rally in Islamabad due to “fear of being rejected” by the public.
The former ruling party, headed by Imran Khan, postponed its public meeting in the federal capital and moved it to September 8 after the local administration retracted the no-objection certificate (NOC) and closed off roads to Islamabad.
PTI leaders Gohar Ali Khan and Azam Swati stated that the meeting was postponed at the direction of the PTI founder following their visit to the imprisoned former prime minister at 7am in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail before the highly anticipated public rally.
Yet, multiple party officials — such as Imran’s sibling Aleema Khan — disputed the declarations made by the highest-ranking leaders.
The defence minister told reporters today that Imran would not have called off the rally if it was expected to be “successful”, rejecting the idea of the establishment meddling in the PTI’s choice.
He added that the PTI is currently attempting to create a new false narrative in order to try and rescue its declining popularity.
Asif said that divisions within the PTI were clear after the sudden cancellation of the rally, citing the “contradictory comments” made by Imran, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan, and Raoof Hasan.
Aleema doubted the PTI leadership’s commitment to releasing the ousted premier from jail, stating they lack genuine intentions, after he was removed from power through a parliamentary vote in April 2022.
In a brief audio recording, she also asked why Swati went to see Imran early in the morning and who told him to do so.
At the same time, the defense czar criticized the former ruling party for claiming they were not involved in the May 9 riots, during which military facilities were targeted following the arrest of the former prime minister.
He stated that the PTI leaders who were captured on video protesting on May 9, 2023, can easily be identified in the footage of the vandalism.
Asif commented on Imran’s meeting with Swati in Adiala Jail, saying that nothing stays confidential in jail, as all actions are monitored.
He stated that work is being done based on a foreign agenda and they will strongly oppose it to protect Pakistan’s national unity.
He also compared Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to ‘Buzdar 2′ and stated that he has exceeded the previous Punjab chief minister in terms of governance failure.
There is a blame game happening in the province led by PTI, with his cabinet members accusing him of being a thief,’ he mentioned.
In answer to a different question, the federal minister stated that it is irrelevant which political party, either the Democrats or the Republicans, take control in the United States. It is up to us to alter our destiny, the United States is unable to do so.
