TTAP sit-in enters fifth day as opposition alliance mulls future course of action
ISLAMABAD: As the TTAP’s sit-in entered its fifth day and the blocked routes to Parliament House were cleared, the party expressed hope on Tuesday that at least one family member of the incarcerated PTI leader Imran Khan or a party leader would be allowed to meet him today.
The protest, which began on Friday, was slated to end today. However, the opposition on Monday decided to extend it for another day to “see the government’s response” to their call for access to the former premier, whose health has recently been called into question by a medical report following his examination at the Adiala jail on Sunday.
TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai, speaking to Dawn, said that as Tuesday was supposed to be a meeting day with Imran Khan, two of the sit-in participants — Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan — would be going to Adiala jail, as their names had been included in the list of those to meet the PTI founder.
“Moreover, we are hoping that the meeting of all sisters or at least one of the family members will be allowed today,” he said. “It will end the rumours about the health of Imran Khan, as they will directly hear from him and will share Khan sahib’s views regarding his health.”
Responding to a question, Yousufzai said that the government should allow the meeting as it may defuse the current tensions if the report regarding Imran Khan’s health was correct.
“It is a fact that during the last two years we have been deceived a number of times, due to which the level of trust has been reduced,” he said.
The spokesperson added that the family needed to meet Imran, after which the three sisters would hold a press conference.
The spokesperson further said he met KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi last night, where it was decided to hold an evening meeting to determine the next course of action.
“During the meeting, we will consider the next phase of our sit-in and movement,” he added.
Imran’s family and associates had been barred from visiting him for several weeks until the Supreme Court’s (SC) intervention last week led to PTI lawyer Salman Safdar being allowed to visit him. Following his visit, he submitted a report to the SC, which said only 15 per cent vision was left in the PTI founder’s right eye.
This prompted a strong response from the opposition alliance, which began a sit-in at the Parliament House for the fulfillment of its demands for Imran’s treatment and examination.
Meanwhile, another protest outside the Parliament Lodges was led by PTI parliamentarians, while KP CM Sohail Afridi led a demonstration at the KP House.
Speaking to the media at the sit-in at KP House on Monday night, Afridi stressed that getting medical treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians and in the presence of his family was Imran’s constitutional right.
“Imran Khan is not an ordinary prisoner. He is a former prime minister and the leader of a major political party,” Afridi said, adding that barring the PTI founder’s family and personal physicians from meeting him was increasing “apprehensions”.
He stressed that the health of Imran was a matter “beyond politics and must be treated accordingly”.
