The government agreed to meet with PTI founder Imran Khan before imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), ARY News reported on Monday, citing sources.
According to sources, contacts between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took place before the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The discussions focused on a proposed meeting with the party’s founder.
Sources said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had agreed to facilitate a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan in accordance with the jail manual.
The government reportedly informed PTI that a family member and a lawyer could meet the party founder, sources added.
During meetings of the party’s political and core committees, Mashal Yousafzai’s name was proposed as the lawyer who would meet Imran Khan, according to sources.
Bushra Bibi’s daughter was proposed as the family member for the meeting. However, following opposition within the party to Mashal Yousafzai’s nomination, she withdrew her name, sources said.
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Sources further claimed that the party reached a consensus on Bushra Bibi’s daughter as the family representative, but Sohail Afridi rejected the decision.
It is to be noted that President Asif Ali Zardari signed the summary for the imposition of an emergency and Governor’s Rule in the province under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to the presidential proclamation, a surge in terrorist incidents and serious security threats prompted the constitutional measures.
The proclamation cited an increase in terrorist attacks on government installations and law enforcement agencies, warning that the incidents posed serious risks to security and public order.
The declaration states that the provincial government has failed to take adequate measures to address terrorism and lawlessness.
It further refers to the governor’s report, which reportedly highlighted disruptions in the constitutional system and alleged that the provincial government was not functioning in accordance with the Constitution.
Read more: Governor’s rule, emergency enforced in KP after president’s approval