Death rumors of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan were put to rest on Tuesday after his sister Uzma Khan met him inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Imran’s family had been alleging that they were not allowed to meet him at the behest of Shehbaz Sharif’s government and Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff, Asim Munir.
Massive support for Imran Khan
Imran’s supporters and his family members hit the streets and staged massive protests after they were denied permission to meet him inside the prison. Imran Khan has a strong hold in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and his influence in the region has the potential to turn the tables for the government. Imran’s roots in a particular tribal section are also a major reason for concern for the Pakistan government, as the Pakistani Army does not want to mess with the tribe.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since 2023
Imran Khan has been in prison since 2023, serving a sentence in a case related to state gifts, and is also serving a sentence in the 190-million-pound case.
When Imran Khan offered to mediate peace with Afghanistan
After meeting Imran Khan, his barrister Gohar said Imran Khan has offered to resolve the strained ties with Afghanistan. He said that Imran wants to be released on parole and that he will help in restoring peace between the two nations.
Imran’s sister, Noreen Niazi, also backed Gohar’s statement, saying that her brother was upset after Afghan refugees were deported from the country despite being given shelter for decades.
The Niazi tribes had migrated from Afghanistan to Pakistan over 100 years ago in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, and they have maintained cordial relations with clan members residing in both countries.
Imran has a strong hold on Niazis
After tensions simmered between Afghanistan and Pakistan, clashes were reported in the region among people belonging to the same clan, separated only by the border line. People on both sides are of similar origin, and they are believed to be close to Imran Khan.
Niazis belong to the same heritage
The Pashtuns are believed to be the largest Muslim tribe in the world. A report suggests that there are 30 major tribes which are further divided into sub-tribes and clans. The Niazis are also among them.
A large tribal group shares sympathies with Imran Khan, and perhaps this was the reason Imran was ready to come forward to broker peace.
