PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday said the party would not reconsider its September 27 protest call, arguing that authorities had left it with no option but to take to the streets.
Speaking to the media at Dahgal Naka on Adiala Road, Gohar expressed concern over the lack of meetings with the PTI founder and said regular meetings could have helped improve the political situation.
He said no political prisoner in the country’s history had faced treatment similar to that of the PTI founder.
Gohar criticised the judiciary, saying courts had disappointed PTI and authorities had failed to implement court orders regarding meetings with the party founder.
He said several PTI petitions remained pending before the Supreme Court.
“We have been pushed against the wall,” he said, adding that authorities had started rounding up party workers ahead of the September 27 protest.
Gohar questioned why citizens should not have the right to hold peaceful protests and said PTI had clearly instructed its supporters not to carry sticks or resort to violence.
He said PTI would take to the streets if the judiciary and parliament failed to provide relief.
Gohar said people had grown tired of political tension and confrontation and called on all sides to take a step back to improve the situation.
He said clear court orders existed regarding the PTI founder’s transfer and meetings with him, but authorities had not implemented them.
Referring to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s visit to Sindh, Gohar said people in Sindh had given him a strong welcome. He criticised the Sindh government for blocking roads during the visit.
He said the PTI founder had entrusted Sohail Afridi with responsibility for the party’s street movement.
On proposals for creating new provinces, Gohar described the issue as serious and said any hasty decision could harm the federation.
He said provinces had never been created merely in proportion to population and warned that further constitutional amendments by the current parliament could weaken the federation.
Gohar said PTI had not issued any statement regarding the PTI founder’s sons and added that a High Court order allowed them to speak to their father.
He rejected allegations that PTI had used provincial resources for political purposes.
Gohar also criticised remarks by the Punjab chief minister regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and terrorism, saying such statements could increase tensions between provinces.
He said terrorism in any form was unacceptable and called for implementation of the National Action Plan.
On appointments in the Pakistan Army and NACTA, Gohar said such matters fell within the respective institutions’ domain and added that PTI had never questioned the appointment of the head of any institution.
He urged the prime minister to initiate consultations with the opposition leader over the appointment of a new chief election commissioner, saying the incumbent’s term had expired in January 2025.
Gohar said Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas held PTI’s mandate for political talks.