Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made the most serious and sustained efforts among political figures to secure the release of jailed Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Speaking to a private television channel, Gandapur said he had previously conveyed the same view within party circles but was now stating it publicly. “Mohsin Naqvi made vigorous efforts to resolve the issue. He made more efforts than anyone else to ensure his release,” he said, referring to Khan’s continued incarceration since August 2023.
Gandapur further claimed that Naqvi spoke in support of the former prime minister in front of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, asserting that few others had shown the willingness to raise the matter at that level. He described Naqvi as someone capable of initiating direct engagement with the military leadership, adding that he had not seen others take similar steps.
The remarks come at a time of heightened political tension following the submission of a medical report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan by Khan’s legal counsel and court-appointed amicus curiae Salman Safdar. The report confirmed that Khan had been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition typically linked to age and underlying cardiovascular risk factors. According to the findings, the former prime minister reported losing approximately 85% of vision in his right eye.
Following the disclosure, PTI leaders and members of Khan’s family expressed concern over his health and called for his transfer to a hospital for specialised treatment. However, sources said a team of specialist doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Al-Shifa International Hospital conducted a detailed examination and expressed satisfaction over his condition, noting improvement in his eyesight.
While acknowledging Naqvi’s efforts, Gandapur said he currently has no contact with the interior minister and does not hold any official position through which he could pursue discussions on Khan’s release. He admitted that PTI had previously been critical of Naqvi, including over his treatment of party leaders, but said he now recognises the minister’s attempts to address the issue.
Gandapur also voiced reservations about fully trusting medical reports in the absence of unrestricted access for family members and senior party leaders. He added that internal divisions and a lack of unified decision-making within PTI have further complicated the party’s response to recent developments.