Imran hinted at marriage in messages, claims Ayesha Gulalai

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ayesha Gulalai  on Thursday alleged that party chief Imran Khan had hinted towards tying the knot in the texts sent to her, which also included inappropriate messages. 

Gulalai claimed that she had informed her father that Imran had asked her to meet alone. She said she went along with her father and brother to meet Imran, which irked him. 

She added that her father had asked Imran regarding what he wanted, but Imran dodged the question. 

"I am ready to sit in front of Imran and can confront him on the obnoxious messages that he sent. He put me through mental torture and pain," said Gulalai. 

She reiterated that Imran had sent her the first inappropriate message in 2013. 

Gulalai claimed that her exposure to the media was also reduced, through Shireen Mazari, and she was not appreciated for highlighting public issues. 

"After all this, I decided to quit the party," said Gulalai. 

When asked why she broke her silence after years, Gulalai said, "I felt embarrassed, hence I held back for four years before finally speaking up". 

To Imran's claims that the PML-N is behind her allegations, Gulalai said the PTI chief has been blaming others for his deeds, adding, "He should come and face me".

About the texts, she said the texts were received from the PTI chairman's personal number. 

"Imran said that he wanted to present a Blackberry phone to me and sent me the pin-code for messages, which I didn't accept."

Speaking of incompetence of KP government, Gulalai said being part of the PTI, it had been difficult for her to defend the Pervez Khattak-led provincial government.

She praised Shehbaz Sharif for his governance of Punjab, however, reiterated that Nawaz-league is not an option for her. "I would rather go for completing my doctorate in Islamic studies and comparative religions."