{"id":12899,"date":"2026-03-28T16:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T16:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12899"},"modified":"2026-03-28T16:07:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T16:07:01","slug":"salman-akram-raja-defends-qasim-khans-advocacy-as-a-struggle-for-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12899","title":{"rendered":"Salman Akram Raja Defends Qasim Khan\u2019s Advocacy as a &#8220;Struggle for Pakistan&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"model-response-message-contentr_ab6ba160433b6b6c\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" dir=\"ltr\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-busy=\"false\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">ISLAMABAD (HRNW)<\/b> \u2013 The Secretary General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Salman Akram Raja, has come forward in defense of Qasim Khan, the son of PTI founder Imran Khan, stating that he is &#8220;fighting Pakistan&#8217;s war&#8221; on the international stage.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">PTI Leadership\u2019s Stance<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\">Addressing a party gathering, Salman Akram Raja reassured workers of their eventual success, framing their movement as a battle for national survival and justice. Key highlights from his speech include:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"4\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Economic Concerns:<\/b> He highlighted the rising unemployment and the vanishing of job opportunities within the country.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Commitment to the Cause:<\/b> Raja emphasized that the party would not retreat, standing firmly with imprisoned colleagues and working in tandem with KP leadership, including Sohail Afridi.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Unity:<\/b> He described the party as a single family under the leadership of Imran Khan, advocating for peaceful struggle and respect for the public mandate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"5\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Controversy: GSP Plus Status<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"6\">The remarks follow a wave of criticism triggered by Qasim Khan\u2019s recent meeting with Baloch National Movement leader Naseem Baloch. During this interaction, Qasim Khan reportedly called on the European Union to revoke Pakistan\u2019s <b data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"229\">GSP Plus (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus)<\/b> status.<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"7\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"7,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Rationale:<\/b> Qasim Khan argued that the special trade status should be withdrawn due to alleged human rights violations in Pakistan, citing the imprisonment of his father, Imran Khan, as a primary example.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Public and Political Reaction:<\/b> The demand has met with a fierce backlash from various political and public circles, who have labeled the move as detrimental to national interests and a campaign against the state.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"8\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Economic Implications<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\">Economic experts warn that the loss of GSP Plus status would be catastrophic for Pakistan&#8217;s economy:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"10\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Textile Sector at Risk:<\/b> The textile industry, which provides livelihoods for millions, relies heavily on duty-free access to European markets granted under this status.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Financial Crisis:<\/b> Revoking this status would lead to a sharp decline in foreign exchange reserves, an increase in the trade deficit, and a massive surge in unemployment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Global Image:<\/b> Critics argue that using international trade platforms for personal or political grievances damages Pakistan&#8217;s global standing and economic stability.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"11\" \/>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"12\"><b data-path-to-node=\"12\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Support Independent Journalism<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\"><b data-path-to-node=\"13\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Human Rights News Agency (HRNW)<\/b> is the world\u2019s <b data-path-to-node=\"13\" data-index-in-node=\"47\">No. 1 Human Rights news portal<\/b>, dedicated to providing comprehensive news and vital information regarding human rights across the globe.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">\ud83d\udc49 <b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"3\"><a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=https:\/\/hrnww.com\/support-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjqgLO-ysKTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQvQU\">Support HRNW: hrnww.com\/support-us<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p 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PTI Leadership\u2019s Stance Addressing a party gathering, Salman Akram Raja reassured workers of their eventual success,&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_12899\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"12899\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 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