Iqbal Khan, a former member of the TTP Swat’s Sufi Mohammad faction is now a part of the Imran Khan-led standoff in Zaman Park, according to senior journalist Hamid Mir.
“This is Maulana Iqbal Khan, who was earlier associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and was in jail following his arrest,” Mir said in a tweet on Thursday evening.
He was freed by Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed under the garb of peace talks and was made a part of the PTI by then KP CM Mahmood Khan, the journalist added. “He is in Zaman Park, Lahore these days.”
Mir’s Twitter post also carried a video of his talk with Aqeel Yousafzai, who confirmed the development.
He added that Iqbal was made a part of PTI as a result of the peace process ongoing at the time, and he was indeed brought to the fold by then CM Khan.
یہ ہیں مولانا اقبال خان جو پہلے تحریک طالبان پاکستان سے وابستہ تھے اور گرفتاری کے بعد جیل کاٹ رہےتھے پھر انکو جنرل فیض حمید نے امن مذاکرات کی آڑ میں رہائی دلائی وزیراعلیٰ محمود خان انہیں تحریک انصاف میں لائے اور آجکل وہ زمان پارک لاہور میں ہوتے ہیں @iaqeelyousafzai pic.twitter.com/Zcti88ca4A
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) March 16, 2023
Earlier today, Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir spoke about ‘militant elements’ at the Zaman Park house during the operation a day earlier.
Addressing a presser accompanied by IG police Usman Anwar, he said that the authorities had received an information about the presence of militants belonging to K-P at the site.
The caretaker minister assured the state would take action against such elements once the operation is complete.
‘Eight militants’
Meanwhile, investigative journalist Hassan Naqvi said Iqbal wasn’t only a member of the faction; he was the right-hand man of late Sufi Mohammad.
He added that some eight militants are reported to be inside Imran Khan’s residence, being the centre of a standoff with the police against his arrest in the Toshakhana case.
Naqvi requested the authorities to take action on the information available as the situation is worrisome.
عمران خان کو گرفتاری نہ دے کر کیا فائدہ ہوا؟
سوات سے عسکریت پسند زمان پارک پہنچنے کا انکشاف@waqas464 @HassanNaqvi5 https://t.co/yRhXoZZ1IJ pic.twitter.com/djx48IvdMf— Naya Daur Urdu (@nayadaurpk_urdu) March 16, 2023
