LAHORE, PAKISTAN: A surprise meeting between three former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders — Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, and Mahmood Moulvi — and incarcerated PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi ended abruptly, yielding no results and further exposing internal rifts within the once-unified party.
The meeting took place at Lahore’s Services Hospital, where Qureshi is currently under treatment. According to his lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, the visit was entirely unannounced. Qureshi reportedly requested the police to call his counsel to attend, but by the time Umer arrived, the visitors had already left after a short exchange.
Insiders revealed that the ex-PTI members intended to discuss a proposal for political reconciliation and possible dialogue, potentially paving the way for Imran Khan’s release and easing tensions between divided factions. However, the meeting ended without any agreement or further engagement.
Following the incident, senior political figures — including Asad Umar — distanced themselves from the effort, stating they had “no involvement” in arranging or endorsing the meeting. Analysts believe the move reflects a growing sense of political isolation among former PTI loyalists who are now seeking to re-enter the mainstream through individual initiatives.
Political observers note that Qureshi’s silence and apparent disinterest in the visitors’ proposal highlight the deep fractures and mistrust within the PTI camp. Once standing shoulder to shoulder during the party’s peak, the former allies now find themselves on opposite sides of an increasingly uncertain political future.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.