Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has renewed efforts to secure relief for its jailed founder Imran Khan and his family following the imposition of emergency and Governor's Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is learnt. Informed sources said that the PTI leadership has approached the authorities with the request to release Khan's three sisters and restore family meetings for Bushra Bibi.
Party sources acknowledged that the PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership's confrontational approach cost it an important opportunity to ease restrictions on the former prime minister and his family. According to informed sources, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has approached government authorities with requests for the release of Imran Khan's three sisters, whose 30-day detention period has elapsed, and the restoration of family meetings with his wife, Bushra Bibi.
The sources said the party was seeking the resumption of Bushra Bibi's meetings with family members, including a meeting on Tuesday, as part of efforts to normalize access following the end of the confrontation surrounding the planned protest march. When contacted for comment, Barrister Gohar declined to discuss the matter, saying he could not speak to the media about it.
Meanwhile, PTI sources conceded that the party had missed a significant opportunity during recent contacts with the government to secure relief for Imran Khan, his sisters, and Bushra Bibi. They attributed the setback, in part, to the aggressive posture adopted by the PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership under then-Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
According to these sources, the provincial leadership remained convinced until the last moment that the federal government would not impose emergency rule or take over the province through Governor's Rule. Some party leaders believed that any such move would trigger a massive public mobilization in the PTI's provincial stronghold, forcing the authorities to reconsider.
However, other individuals in contact with government and relevant authorities had reportedly been warning that the decision to impose emergency rule was firm and that the federal government would not compromise unless its concerns over the planned march and the deteriorating security situation were addressed.
The sources said the provincial leadership underestimated the resolve of the authorities while overestimating its own ability to mobilize public support in response to a federal intervention. The subsequent response to the imposition of emergency and Governor's Rule on 11 اکتوبر appeared to reinforce these concerns.
An intelligence report recently indicated that only one gathering, in Bara on 13 اکتوبر, attracted more than 500 participants before dispersing following police action. The provincial government, which had been controlled by PTI, was suspended following the imposition of emergency and Governor's Rule, while Sohail Afridi was taken into preventive custody.
PTI has rejected the federal government's intervention and disputed its justification, particularly its allegations concerning the provincial administration's handling of terrorism. The party has maintained that the move was politically motivated.
The latest reported contacts suggest that, despite the breakdown of the earlier confrontation, efforts may still be under way to obtain relief for Imran Khan and his family. Whether these efforts produce any concessions remains unclear.