- “We held extensive talks over several sessions in Nov last year.”
- Khan was worried about what was happening outside, says Ahmed.
- Ahmed has been friend, donor of Khan for nearly 2 decades.
LONDON: Pakistani-American tycoon Tanweer Ahmed has confirmed that he met former prime minister and the jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan several times last November in Adiala Jail for a breakthrough but in the end Khan decided to get his demands met through last year’s march on Islamabad, led by Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
In a story published on April 14 this year, Geo News had revealed that Ahmed held several rounds of talks with Khan and talks progressed positively till a sudden breakdown after a few PTI leaders gave unrealistic advice to Khan.
“We held extensive talks over several sessions in November last year. When I met him his shave had grown. He had a grown beard. He was healthy and super fit. He said he was being lazy and didn’t shave as there was no court appearance and no meeting with anyone,” he said while speaking to Geo News in London.
“Khan was in good health. I asked him if he was aware of the kind of atmosphere cyber warriors had created outside in his name that he was being tortured. I told him about the polarisation and division that existed outside. I told him that he had played his role in creating this kind of polarisation and division and that he should play his role in ending it.”
Ahmed said that Imran Khan was worried and concerned about what was happening outside and it also looked like that he was not being provided the correct information.
The business entrepreneur said that Imran Khan has “some valid points” and he’s sticking to many of his demands, if not all. “I cannot share those classified details.”
He said: “Imran Khan was worried. It was clear that he was not in the full know of things and had no truthful picture of what was happening outside. We discussed a lot of things over the course of several days. These were good meetings. We discussed and agreed how to end polarisation and division in the society. We discussed how hatred and negativity was dividing and harming Pakistan and how as patriotic Pakistanis we should unite the young people and work for the progress of Pakistan.”
When asked how he was able to meet Imran Khan, Tanweer Ahmed said that the due court process was followed and the meeting was arranged. He didn’t share how and who helped to arrange these meetings.
Geo News had earlier reported that long before a group of American-Pakistanis travelled to Pakistan in the third week of March this year for the sensitive talks with Imran Khan, several rounds of meetings took place in Adiala jail between ex-PM Khan and one of the persons involved in the recent negotiations and talks. That person, it’s confirmed, who met Imran Kha one-on-one was Tanweer Ahmed.
He was also part of the delegation that travelled from the US in March to Pakistan to break the deadlock between Khan and the powerful Pakistani administration. The delegation included: food and real estate American-Pakistani tycoon Tanweer Ahmed, PTI USA senior leader Atif Khan, Sardar Abdul Sami, Dr Usman Malik, Dr Saira Bilal and Dr Mohammad Munir.
Ahmed said the whole idea behind these meetings was to end the deadlock and move towards reconciliation. “I am apolitical. I am not affiliated with any political party or any person. For me, Pakistan comes first. All I care for is what is good for Pakistan and how to help Pakistan. When I spoke to Khan, it was all about Pakistan and putting Pakistan first.”
He said that all was going well till Khan decided that he would get his demands met through the means of agitation and street movement. “I told Imran Khan that this will not help him and his mission. I told him that he would call such a thing anarchy under his government…”
Ahmed said it was clear that the PTI leadership had not availed several opportunities and failed to gain political space. “It’s not for the leaders to create followers but create leaders too so that the team backs the leader in difficult times. In PTI, they lack leadership skills and have failed to adapt to new realities. PTI’s confrontational politics has brought PTI to this stage. It has become a party that is at war with itself. On each issue, various conflicting statements are issued by the leaders and no one knows who is doing what and who is leading,” he said.
During the November meeting last year with the Pakistani-American, Khan accepted the need for an understanding with the government and the establishment and almost agreed to a settlement of the issues — until he was assured in the same week that millions would join the long march on Islamabad, creating enough chaos to bring the system to the decisive negotiations. According to the sources, three senior KP leaders — including Ali Amin Gandapur — provided assurances to Khan during the jail meetings that millions would storm Islamabad, ensuring his release on the PTI’s terms.
Khan, said the trusted sources, was so convinced about the success of the march that he decided to end the talks with the American-Pakistani delegation and sent a stern message to the government officers that he hoped the street agitation and reaction would decide his fate.
Ahmed has been a personal friend and donor of Khan for nearly two decades and frequently met him when he was the premier. He regretted that Imran Khan was ill-advised by his own people and made him do things which have only jeopardised his chances.
