PTI leaders appeal for unity as jailed leaders prioritise Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s release

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing growing internal tension with five senior party leaders detained at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail urging the party’s top leadership to maintain unity avoid public disagreements and prioritise the release of Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing growing internal tension with five senior party leaders detained at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail urging the party’s top leadership to maintain unity avoid public disagreements and prioritise the release of Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

The joint letter sent through Advocate Rana Mudassar Umar is addressed to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Secretary General Salman Akram Raja members of the parliamentary party and representatives of the party’s political and core committees.

The letter has been signed by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed and Omar Sarfraz Cheema.

Describing PTI as being at a critical point in its political journey the incarcerated leaders stressed that preserving the party’s organisational strength was essential to maintaining public confidence particularly among Pakistan’s younger generation.

They also highlighted the challenges facing the party following the prolonged imprisonment of its founder, Imran Khan and the difficulties confronting its remaining leadership.

The jailed leaders offered five recommendations to help address the party’s internal differences. They called on senior figures to demonstrate patience, avoid reacting hastily to rumours, and resolve disagreements through consultation and collective decision-making.

They further emphasised that discussions held during party meetings should remain confidential until an official position is announced. Leaders were advised to avoid expressing personal opinions in the media before the party establishes a unified stance.

The letter also delivered a clear message regarding calls for resignations, stating that the current political circumstances were not suitable for resignations or demands for other leaders to step down.

Qureshi’s release should be a top priority

The central demand in the letter concerns Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s continued detention. The signatories urged PTI’s leadership to make securing his release a leading objective of its political and legal strategy.

According to the letter Qureshi has been imprisoned for more than three years. The signatories stated that he had been acquitted in six cases and granted bail in others, while proceedings in two similar cases remained delayed because the relevant records had not been presented.

They argued that his release would strengthen the party’s leadership and help it navigate its current difficulties.

The appeal comes amid reported disagreements within PTI over its political strategy and leadership decisions. By urging consultation, discipline and a common approach, the imprisoned leaders appear to be seeking to prevent internal disputes from further weakening the party.

The letter’s message is that PTI should focus on collective leadership and the legal efforts to secure the release of its senior figures rather than allowing internal disagreements to dominate its political agenda.

The report states that Minute Mirror obtained the letter through Advocate Rana Mudassar Umar and was seeking responses from Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja.