Tazeen Akhtar
Russian Ambassador’s meeting with PTI leaders today can not be only on regional conflicts and international affairs but actually on the status of Imran Khan who is languishing in the prison since last two years with no chance of coming out in the near future.
Imran Khan took initiative in Feb 2022 to visit Moscow at a time when Russia Ukraine war was started and he had to face extreme criticism from within the country as well as from Europe and USA. Biden was the President of US that time. Imran’s gov faced no trust move in only less than two months that he lost and he had to quit his office. He is arrested since May 2023.
That is why Russian leadership have a soft corner for Imran Khan. Another development was the election of Trump as US President and now Imran has his sympathisers both in Kremlin and White House.
Some political observers were sure that Trump 2 will get Imran released but there was no such move from Washington in last many months and most recently Field Marshal Asim Munir was invited and honored by Trump that disappointed PTI stalwarts. Today Russian Ambassador met PTI leaders and this meeting will be seen in same back ground. May be Russia is speeding up the efforts now when Trump has given a wrong signal to Imran’s followers.
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PTI media office released to press that the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Albert P. Khorev, called on senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser at his residence on Monday.The meeting was also attended by former PTI information secretary and head of the party’s policy think tank, Raoof Hasan.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the prevailing regional situation, including the aftermath of the recent Israeli aggression against Iran, and discussed issues of mutual interest. Emphasis was laid on the need for peace, stability, and enhanced regional connectivity.
Mr. Asad Qaiser underscored the importance of fostering cooperation to bring the people of both countries closer together. He said that in light of the current global challenges, stronger diplomatic engagement and collaborative efforts had become more crucial than ever.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Asad Qaiser presented a traditional Pashtun turban to the Russian envoy as a gesture of goodwill. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations.
Embassy of Russia has not issued any statement in this regard. Imran Khan is the most popular leader in Pakistan whose party emerged as the largest in last general elections but a big mistake (Opting to another party that had no presence in National Assembly) deprived it from reserve seats that helped the two rival parties PMLN PPP to form a coalition government.
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