Army chief praises Ali Amin Gandapur for ‘cooperation on national issues’

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has praised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur for his collaboration on issues of national importance, a private media outlet reported.

As per the details, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, earlier this week, chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee that was attended by all provincial chief executives, prominent federal ministers and services as well as intelligence chiefs, including the director general (DG) of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI).

Reports quoted a source close to CM Gandapur as saying that COAS Gen Asim, during the meeting, appreciated the KP chief executive for his cooperation on various issues such as security and International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations.

As the meeting continued, CM Gandapur highlighted the issue of PTI founder Imran Khan’s incarceration and demanded his release from jail.

“We want the release of our leader from jail,” he said, noting that Khan had been behind bars for over a year “without committing any crime”.

The KP CM also reminded the participants that during PTI's reign, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif was allowed to seek treatment in London despite his conviction in Pakistan.

It may be noted that previously, former PM Imran was on August 5, 2023, arrested from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and has since been in jail on multiple charges.

While his sentence was suspended by a court later, the PTI founder continues to remain in jail over his alleged involvement in several other cases pertaining to corruption, misappropriation of funds and inciting masses against state institutions.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday approved his bail in a second Toshakhana case; however, Khan was not released and re-arrested in jail for allegedly inciting party workers to clash with law enforcement in September this year.

An anti-terrorism court has approved a five-day physical remand of the former PTI chief in the case. Under this order, an investigation officer will interrogate Khan at Adiala Jail.

As the remand was granted, Khan's cell within the prison was formally designated as a police station for the duration of the custody period. He will remain under New Town police jurisdiction while in custody.

According to court orders, Khan is to be presented before the court on November 26, when further steps in the investigation will be determined based on any new evidence collected.