ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) confirmed on Sunday its chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had a rare meeting with Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi.
PTI founder’s sister Aleema Khan took to her social media account to share this development, which, it is speculated, could potentially lead to a thaw between the government and the top opposition party.
“Barrister Gohar and Sohail Afridi met Mohsin Naqvi. Our family had no knowledge of this meeting and neither was any family member present,” she wrote on her account.
Sohail Afridi told The News that describing the meeting as secret is not correct. He said, “When everyone is talking about it, how can it be secret? I clearly said in a press conference two days ago that I am in contact with everyone regarding the issues of my province, and Imran Khan has given me this mandate.”
Sohail Afridi said that the meeting discussed the overall law and order situation in the province, especially the recent incident in Bannu, in detail.
PTI Information Secretary Waqas Akram also confirmed to The News that he had talked to Barrister Gohar and that the party confirms the meeting had taken place. “The meeting was about the Bannu terrorist attack and law and order situation,” he explained.
A source close to the party chairman, said that the meeting was held at the residence of Barrister Gohar in the federal capital, which was attended by the Khyber Chief Minister as well while no member from the family of incarcerated party leader was present there.
He pointed out that the huddle had taken place on May 14 at 9:30am and for reasons unknown, it was kept secret. Asked why in his opinion, no family member was invited to it or taken on board about it, he said the most likely reason was that the meeting was about the deadly attack and security situation in the province, having nothing to do with PTI or Imran and his spouse Bushra Bibi.
However, a senior party leader, who did not wish to be quoted, did not rule out the possibility that the party’s policy towards the incumbent government and the establishment also came under discussion, the details or impact of which may unfold in the days to come.
