Says PTI was offered to hold protest in Sanjgani instead of D-Chowk in return for concessions to PTI founder
PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah. PHOTO: Express
Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah claimed on Wednesday that during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest in November 2024, party founder Imran Khan initially agreed to hold talks and not protest at D-Chowk, but later backed out, adding that it was a missed opportunity for his release.
In an interview on the ‘Capital Talk’ program on a private news outlet, Sanaullah revealed that the government, including Interior Minister Naqvi, had made an offer to Imran, suggesting that the party hold its planned November 2024 sit-in in Sangjani instead of marching towards D-Chowk.
“He (Imran Khan) was given wise advice and Mohsin Naqvi was directly engaged in talks with him and told him not to come towards Islamabad or go to D-Chowk, but to sit in Sangjani and hold talks there. Initially Imran Khan agreed to this, but after accepting it, he backed down and said that they want Bushra Bibi to take the decision,” he said. Sanaullah said.
He explained that if Imran had accepted, he would have received concessions, adding that the decision led to a missed opportunity for his release.
Asked whether Imran had allegedly said he did not want to come out, Sanaullah replied: “You can say that.”
The prime minister’s aide said the PTI founder could have secured his release from Adiala jail if the party had taken a more peaceful approach during its 2024 protest.
Sanaullah noted that the PTI miscalculated the potential outcome of its street agitation, believing it would trigger a revolution. “They thought the street movement would create a revolution,” he added.
“Imran Khan wants to be released from jail; he doesn’t want to stay in jail for a single day,” Sanaullah continued. “But the PTI and Imran Khan are misjudging the situation. They were under the illusion that their attack on wheels on February 8 would create a significant impact.”
The prime minister’s aide also alleged that Imran was no longer making decisions for the PTI independently. Instead, he claimed that Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was influencing the party’s decisions. “Imran fully followed his wife’s advice when he was prime minister and he still listens to her today,” Sanaullah said. He rejected allegations that Imran had ever resisted his family’s influence on party decisions.
Referring to PTI’s announcement earlier today of another street agitation after Eid, he said, “It is understood that Imran’s rally will be stopped during Ramazan after the announcement to start the street movement.”
He further noted that PTI leaders lacked the ability to launch a successful street movement for Imran’s release. He warned that they would be dealt with accordingly if they tried to create chaos.
Sanaullah said the PTI’s proposed post-Eid move was a “conspiracy” against Imran and the party, adding that the PTI founder had lived in good conditions in jail and received quality treatment. He also referred to PTI’s February 8 wheel stop call, which he claimed had received a poor response.
The prime minister’s aide also advised the PTI to engage in talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had invited them for discussions on the country’s stability. “They can receive concessions if they take positive initiatives for the country’s development,” he said, adding that the street protests and sit-ins only complicated the situation further.
He criticized PTI for complaining about Imran’s lack of meetings with his family and PTI leaders. “PTI itself was responsible for the situation because of their use of derogatory language after the meeting with Imran,” Sanaullah said.
“If these meetings were not used for abuse against the state and state institutions or for below-the-belt propaganda, then who prevented them from holding the meetings?” he asked.
