Lahore, March 7, 2026: Five senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders incarcerated at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail have called for political unity and national cohesion to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty, economy, and democracy.
The leaders — Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema — issued the statement on Saturday through their counsel, which was also shared by the party on X.
They warned that internal divisions and external pressures were threatening Pakistan’s stability, urging all stakeholders to “put aside personal ambitions, political grudges, and institutional pride for the sake of Pakistan.”
The PTI leaders emphasized that the current regional and national challenges, including tensions on the eastern border and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, required internal cohesion, coordination, and understanding. They suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) and the PTI’s political committee hold discussions to formulate a way forward in a joint parliamentary session.
“External threats might not be of our creation, but they require internal unity to mitigate their fallout. Pakistan’s economic stability, achieved at a high cost by its people, is under threat,” the statement said.
The leaders highlighted the impact of US-Israeli attacks on Iran on Pakistan’s economy, noting that friendly Gulf countries planning investments in Pakistan were distracted. They warned that rising oil and gas prices would increase the import bill, erode the current account surplus, and perpetuate dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
They also cited domestic challenges, including the inability to generate three million additional jobs annually and stress on the agriculture sector, saying, “At our current GDP growth, poverty reduction is not possible. Business as usual is no longer feasible, and political confrontation is undesirable.”
The incarcerated leaders urged all stakeholders — political parties, the military, judiciary, legal fraternity, media, and citizens — to work collectively. They stressed that upholding the Constitution and the rule of law was essential to navigate the country out of the political stalemate.
“History will not forgive the existing political leadership if it fails to put its house in order. Pakistan needs a healing touch,” the statement said, while also urging TTAP and PTI members to debate and give due consideration to these proposals.
They concluded that while the opposition has a role to play, the onus of pulling Pakistan out of the current political quagmire lies on the shoulders of the current regime.
This statement follows earlier calls by the PTI leadership for the government to revisit its approach toward the party and its founder, Imran Khan, amid growing political and economic uncertainty.
