Journalist Fahad Shehbaz Khan claimed on Monday that senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati, during his visit to Adiala Jail on Eid day, asked former Prime Minister Imran Khan 15-20 times to give him permission for dialogue with the establishment.

 

In a video statement, the journalist said that in the 30-minute meeting, Swati emphasized that the path of reconciliation must be followed.

 

Fahad further claimed that Swati, while listing his sacrifices to Imran Khan, said that he personally bore the expenses of 1,100 prisoners — from cigarettes to food. “I treated the imprisoned boys in jails like my own sons,” the journalist quoted Swati as saying.

 

Fahad stated that Swati complained to Imran Khan that the latter had awarded party posts to an individual who used to refer to him and his father with derogatory names. “There was also one personality present in the conference room meeting at Adiala Jail along with Swati. On every concern that Swati raised, Imran Khan told the individual what to do,” said the journalist.

 

Touching upon the 26th Constitutional Amendment and the February 8 general election, Imran Khan said that he knows the incumbent government better than Swati, said the journalist, adding that Imran Khan informed the leader that the government would use delaying tactics [regarding dialogue].

 

“Even in the final moments, when Azam Swati was leaving the meeting, he was saying to Imran Khan, ‘Give me permission for negotiations,’ to which Imran Khan replied, ‘You’ve already tried twice before,'” said the journalist.

 

Meanwhile, Imran Khan confirmed that he instructed Swati to initiate dialogue with the military establishment, The News reported on Wednesday (today).

 

On Tuesday, while speaking to party leaders and lawyers during a meeting at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, the former premier emphasised that the outreach was not related to his legal cases but was done solely for the sake of Pakistan.

 

As per the report, Imran Khan told his visitors that he has never closed the door on dialogue with the establishment. However, he clarified that his party had ceased talks with the current government, which he described as lacking any real authority.

 

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senator Ali Zafar and lawyers Zaheer Abbas, Mubashar Awan, and Ali Imran were the visitors at Adiala Jail yesterday. However, Aleema Khan, along with his sisters, was barred from meeting her brother in jail.

 

In response to Swati’s recent video statement, Imran Khan was quoted as saying, “This is about Pakistan, democracy, the rule of law, and respecting the people’s mandate.”

 

Swati, in a video statement, had earlier revealed that the party founder had directed him to engage with the establishment while keeping the nature of the discussions confidential.