Imran Khan postpones protest movement for two weeks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has decided to delay the party’s planned protest movement by two weeks in light of the prevailing regional instability, according to party representatives.

Speaking to media outside Adiala Jail after meeting the incarcerated former prime minister, his sister Noreen Niazi said Imran Khan made the decision after assessing global developments, particularly in the Middle East. “We are waiting for official statements from the Prime Minister, the President, and the Field Marshal regarding Pakistan’s stance,” she added.

According to Noreen, Imran Khan had not met anyone for the past week but was fully aware of the international situation. “He believes these global events will impact Pakistan, and this is a time when all Pakistanis must unite,” she said.

She also conveyed Khan’s criticism of the federal budget, calling it a product of “elite culture” that further burdens the salaried class. “This is a budget that neglects the poor. Poverty will rise, and the overall situation is deteriorating,” she quoted him as saying.

Highlighting Pakistan’s ongoing brain drain, Noreen said, “In the past three years, 3.3 million educated individuals have left the country, each taking an estimated $30,000 with them. That’s a significant loss of foreign exchange.”

She also said that the budget for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would not be “approved” until Imran Khan holds consultations with key PTI leaders including Ali Amin Gandapur, Taimur Jhagra, Muzzammil Aslam, Omar Ayub, and Shibli Faraz.

Imran Khan’s other sister, Uzma Khanum, echoed his call for unity in the current circumstances and denied rumours that Ali Amin Gandapur had distanced himself from the protest movement. “Anyone protesting around the world in support of Imran Khan will have our backing,” she said, adding that Khan laughed off reports of dissent.

She also pointed out the silence of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership on the recent Pakistan-India tensions, saying, “We are still waiting for these so-called rulers, who were imposed on us even when they had won just 17 seats, to show some direction. This is their responsibility.”

Uzma said Imran Khan was deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence in Gaza. “His position on Israel is well known. What is happening in Gaza is extremely painful,” she said.