ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General Salman Akram Raja Wednesday strongly reacted to the media talk of founder chairman Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and insisted whatever she uttered was wrong and he completely disagreed.
During a news conference, Raja asserted that Aleema made factually incorrect statements and he had informed her about this in categorical terms. “I am not prepared even for a moment to occupy this party slot and had never wished so,” he claimed.
Salman Akram explained that he had thrice informed Imran Khan that he was unwilling to do this duty (of secretary general). “But I have been assigned a duty and I will discharge it,” he emphatically remarked.
He also said that Aleema Khan had complained about the postponement of April 9 public meeting but he would say that they had taken an absolutely correct decision, which was later endorsed by Imran Khan as well. They had taken the decision through a political committee meeting.
Salman Akram said they had information that foreign delegations were arriving for a conference, which was going to be perhaps the biggest in a century, and it was their duty to support and back it. That was why they refused to come to Islamabad.
He claimed that they were in touch with various diplomats, including from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Iran, and they knew what their desire was i.e. they wanted the conference to be held in a peaceful environment in Islamabad. “Therefore, what we did was absolutely right. We had also asked the government that Imran Khan be given proper medical care at Shifa International Hospital, which was his right, and also his doctors, family members and lawyers be allowed to meet him. But we could not threaten the government that if this is not done, then we will resort to creating disturbances,” he noted.
Salman Akram contended had they hurled a threat, it would have been like going against Pakistan’s interests, regional and global peace. “We played the role of facilitators and did it rightly,” he added.
Later, replying to questions, he again asserted to having no desire to have the party post. “I curse any post… this slot has been imposed on me, and I will again send my resignation to Imran Khan. I wish that it is conveyed and accepted when the next meeting is held with him,” he said.
He also insisted that Aleema Khan had no understanding of politics and line of action with regards to the party.
Meanwhile, a team of doctors conducted an eye examination of Bushra Bibi, the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, at Adiala Jail, according to sources. The four-member medical team, comprising specialists from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, visited Central Jail Rawalpindi to carry out the assessment.
The team included Professor Nadeem Qureshi, Dr Arif Khan, Dr Afaq Ahmad and Dr Umar Farooq.
Jail sources said the doctors performed a detailed examination lasting approximately two hours, after which eye drops and other medications were prescribed.
