Advisor to Prime Minister (PM) on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday cautioned that if Suleman Khan and Qasim Khan, sons of jailed former premier Imran Khan, come to Pakistan to lead the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) scheduled protest on August 5, they will be arrested.

 

Appearing on a private media outlet, Sanaullah sternly asked why Imran Khan’s sons would not be arrested if they came to join the “violent protest”, warning that they would be in trouble.

 

On being asked by the host about why Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) top brass Rana Sanaullah thinks that the August 5 protest would be violent, Sanaullah said, “After May 9... who would believe that protest will not be violent?”

 

When further asked whether PTI will not be allowed at all to stage protests, Sanaullah said, “Yes, PTI will not be allowed” to do so, adding that they will only gather on roads for violent protests.

 

Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Tuesday, Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan stated that her brother intends to lead a protest movement from jail against the 26th Constitutional Amendment, while his sons will join the campaign after returning from the United States (US).

 

“Imran Khan’s sons, Qasim and Sulaiman, will first go to the United States to raise awareness about the injustices faced by their father, and then they will take part in the movement being launched in Pakistan. Imran Khan has been informed of this,” she said.

 

She added, “People must come out for themselves, for democracy, for the rule of law, and against the 26th Amendment. Anyone who cannot bear the weight of this movement should step aside now.”

 

Last week, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram told a leading English daily that his party first postponed the nationwide protests due to the Iran-Israel war, then it delayed it out of respect for Muharram.

 

The PTI spokesperson stated that in the first phase, demonstrations would be held in provinces and districts.

 

When asked about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur's statement that he will carry weapons to the protest, Akram said Gandapur was talking about self-defense. “What the chief minister meant was that everybody has the right to self-defence,” he added.

 

The PTI spokesperson further claimed the PTI patron-in-chief had directed Gandapur to lead the protest.