Sahibzada Hamid Raza - the head of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) - on Wednesday asserted that no individual, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar holds the authority to decide who should meet Imran Khan.

Speaking on Samaa TV’s prominent talk show Nadeem Malik Live, Raza emphasised that the Terms of Reference (TORs) for any meeting had been established in the presence of the superintendent, clarifying that even party members like Niazullah Niazi and Mashal had no knowledge of the attendees except Barrister Gohar, Barrister Ali Zafar, and Zaheer Abbas.

Addressing a question regarding Barrister Gohar’s stance as party chairman, Raza responded firmly, saying, “No one, including Barrister Gohar, has the right to determine who met the founder and who did not. Only the orders of the High Court will allow Salman Akram to provide the official list to the superintendent.”

Hamid Raza further explained that the nature of discussions had been cordial, dismissing the notion that Barrister Ali Zafar’s presence at a meeting had any contentious implications.

He added, “There was no bitter conversation, only a normal discussion and a debate. Aleema Khan had expressed her intent to meet her brother, stating that if they wished to arrest her, they should do so.”

Raza detailed a sequence of events involving an arrest, describing how he had been asked to sit in a car with nine women, only to be relocated to the front seat to avoid the impression that he was under arrest.

He recounted, “I questioned why I was being placed in the car and asked if the intention was to make it appear as though I was being arrested.”

The sequence of events then unfolded with Raza and others being transported to a designated area, a petrol pump, and later to a wedding hall.

Raza clarified that despite earlier reports, no police had fled the scene, though there were police officers taking videos covertly without revealing their identities.

The Sunni Ittehad Council head recounted further details of the ordeal, stating, “We were taken to Blue World City, made to stand on an isolated road near Chakri Interchange, and were told to go. On our way, we received a call instructing us to release the individuals. There were three women with us, and we were without mobile phones. I borrowed a phone from someone to contact my brother.”

Raza concluded by condemning any attacks on soldiers, reaffirming the council’s stance against violence.