Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur has claimed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made more serious and sustained efforts than anyone else to secure the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. Speaking to a private news channel, Gandapur said he had previously shared this view within party circles and was now stating it publicly. “Mohsin Naqvi made vigorous efforts to resolve the issue. He made more efforts than anyone else to ensure Imran Khan’s release,” he said. His remarks come at a time of heightened political tension following a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan by Khan’s counsel and the court-appointed amicus curiae, Salman Safdar. The report confirmed that the former prime minister was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition. According to the medical findings, Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, had complained of losing approximately 85 percent of vision in his right eye. The condition is generally associated with older age and underlying cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease. Following the report, the PTI leadership and members of Khan’s family expressed concern over his health and demanded that he be shifted to a hospital for proper treatment. However, separate sources said that a team of specialist doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Al-Shifa International Hospital conducted a detailed examination and expressed satisfaction over his current condition, noting significant improvement in his eyesight. In an earlier interview, Gandapur also claimed that Mohsin Naqvi had spoken in support of Imran Khan even in front of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir. “Naqvi is the only person I have seen who can even get the Field Marshal to engage in a conversation. I have not seen anyone else do that,” he said. He acknowledged that the PTI had previously been upset with Naqvi over his handling of party matters, including his own treatment. “Imran was angry with him, but now I acknowledge Naqvi’s role in attempting to resolve the matter,” Gandapur added. Gandapur also said he currently has no contact with the interior minister and does not hold any official position through which he could discuss the issue further. Commenting on Khan’s health, he said he found it difficult to fully trust medical reports due to past experiences. According to him, concerns arise when family members and senior party leaders are not allowed to meet the PTI founder. He further noted that the PTI is facing internal divisions and a lack of clear decision-making, which he said has complicated the party’s response to ongoing political developments.
Gandapur Says Mohsin Naqvi Made Strongest Efforts for Imran Khan’s Release
