Dismisses claims of US pressure for Imran’s release
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has dismissed claims of US pressure for the release of the founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan, stating it was a “baseless assumption.”
He added that if the US wished, it could exchange Imran for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
In an interview, Rana Sanaullah suggested that if Imran were to leave Pakistan, his political career would be over, and his party would disband.
He also remarked that, in his personal opinion, if US President-elect Donald Trump, after assuming office, asked for Imran’s release, it should be considered, citing that the US had exerted considerable pressure for the release of Dr. Shakeel Afridi, but the Pakistani government had resisted.
Rana Sanaullah also stated that Pakistan could not afford another general election within the next three to six months.
Claims of Imran’s potential release comes at a time when PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari announced plans to discuss former’s situation with US President-elect Donald Trump and his team.
Zulfi, a close ally of Imran, stated in an interview that he is in contact with Trump’s family members, including his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.