A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, after meeting party founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, has said that Imran Khan clarified that he did not call former Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister Muhammad Atif Khan, or lawmaker Shahram Khan Tarakai 'conspirators', a leading Urdu daily newspaper reported today (Thursday).

 

While urging party leaders to stop blaming each other, Imran Khan warned that further controversial statements would result in disciplinary action, said the party leader.

 

The clarification comes days after Chief Minister (CM) KP Ali Amin Gandapur’s recent statement sparked controversy among PTI leaders.

 

During a podcast with journalist Irshad Bhatti on Friday, Gandapur, while responding to a question about not awarding provincial assembly tickets to Qaiser, Atif Khan and Tarakai, had remarked, “Khan Sahab instructed us to not award MPA tickets to Atif, Shahram and Asad Qaiser. I had received an indirect message that they are conspirators.” 

 

Gandapur said that as he was informed that the three conspired, he was instructed not to let them enter KP’s assembly. 

 

Following the remarks, Qaiser took no time to express disappointment over Gandapur's statement and asked the party to investigate the charges. 

 

 

The former speaker of the national assembly wrote, “I demand from the party’s central leadership that a thorough investigation be conducted into the recent statement of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that Chairman Imran Khan's position in this regard be brought before the nation,” adding that he reserves the right to respond to Gandapur’s statement; however, in the current circumstances, he considers it necessary for the country and the founding Chairman of PTI Imran Khan to avoid such things.

 

“At this time, all our attention should be focused on the release of Imran Khan and other innocent prisoners. The struggle for Imran Khan's release should not be weakened by inflaming internal party issues through unnecessary statements. The Chief Minister should focus all his energies on better governance, restoration of law and order in the province, and the struggle for the release of Imran Khan and other innocent prisoners,” he further wrote.

 

Tarakai, in a social media post, also demanded inquiry into the matter, claiming that he reserved the right to respond to the CM’s statement; however, he added that such a course of action would damage the party in the current situation.

 

“All efforts to weaken Khan Sahib and the party will fail. A leader keeps people together, does not divide them for personal ego or desire,” Tarakai said.