Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, has claimed that the government offered to release the incarcerated former prime minister (PM) if the party shifted its Islamabad protest from D-Chowk to Sangjani.

 

PTI’s “decisive” march on the federal capital had last month ended inconclusively after a massive crackdown by law enforcement at D-Chowk. The grand clearance operation had come as PTI leaders and workers continued with their protests amid deadly clashes with police and Rangers, rejecting the government’s offer to shift the demonstration to Sangjani on the outskirts of the capital city. The abrupt end to the protests had also prompted party supporters to train guns at the leadership for “giving into” pressure and “fleeing” Islamabad.

 

“They [the government] panicked after seeing so many protesters in Islamabad and sent [PTI chief] Barrister Gohar and [KP govt adviser] Barrister Saif to meet Khan in jail,” Aleema said while speaking to reporters outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore Saturday.

 

She added that the government offered to “release Khan in 20 days” if the protest was shifted. However, Aleema clarified, that the offer to release her brother was not part of any “negotiations”.

 

Earlier, the former premier's sister appeared before the court in the case pertaining to attack on Jinnah House on May 9, 2023, securing an extension in bail till January 18.

 

During the course of proceedings, Aleema told the court that she, along with other PTI leaders and workers, had been appearing in courts for the past one-and-a-half year in connection with different cases.

 

“Earlier, the investigation officers (IOs) did not show up and now judges are being transferred. Due to this, our bails are not confirmed,” she complained.

 

Aleema went on to say that she had been nominated even in cases registered on October 4, which was much after her arrest. “Why was I nominated when I was in jail?” she asked.

 

“We don’t want bail… we seek a trial on May 9. The prosecution doesn’t have any evidence against us. Even the police don’t know about our role,” she asserted.

 

“People are rotting in jails. The truth of the matter is that the prosecutor does not have any evidence of our involvement.”

 

Aleema also expressed sorrow over the "destruction of democracy," emphasising that democracy rested on three pillars, the judiciary, the legislature and media. "All three have been dismantled," she said.