Gohar Ali Khan says Imran Khan never ordered talks to be halted
RAWALPINDI:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has reiterated its commitment to dialogue, even as differing views emerge within the party on the timing and conditions for talks following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of negotiations.
Gohar Emphasises Dialogue as Only Way Forward
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan adopted a conciliatory tone, stressing that dialogue remains the only viable path out of the country’s political impasse.
“No matter how intense a street movement becomes, there is no alternative to dialogue,” he said, clarifying that PTI founder Imran Khan has never issued any directive to halt negotiations.
Gohar also pointed out that PTI’s challenges were not only external. “People from within are also responsible for the difficulties we face today,” he said, calling for unity and patience during a testing period for the party.
Jail Meetings Denied, Sit-In Follows
On Tuesday, PTI leaders and family members of the incarcerated party founder were once again denied permission to meet him, despite Tuesday being the designated meeting day. The repeated denial prompted a peaceful sit-in on Adiala Road, led by Imran Khan’s sisters and supported by party workers, including a large number of women.
Gohar said PTI leaders routinely arrive on time but are forced to return after waiting. “The system appears to have come to a standstill simply to stop us,” he remarked, urging authorities to act with restraint for the sake of national stability.
Clarifying Internal Statements on Talks
Addressing recent remarks by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja, Gohar clarified that Afridi’s Lahore visit and role in the street movement were carried out on the explicit instructions of the party founder.
He confirmed that while protest remains PTI’s constitutional right, the party has not withdrawn from dialogue. Opposition alliance chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Allama Nasir Abbas Raja, he said, have been authorised to conduct negotiations on PTI’s behalf.
Salman Akram Raja Calls for Meaningful Engagement
Speaking near the Factory checkpoint, Salman Akram Raja underlined that meaningful dialogue requires sincerity, including restoring access to the party founder.
He recalled that talks held in late 2024 and early 2025 failed to move beyond symbolic gestures. “Negotiations without access to the PTI founder risk legitimising injustice,” he said, while clarifying that PTI would not beg, but would continue to demand its constitutional and legal rights.
PTI Warns Against Prolonged Political Stalemate
Gohar warned that continued political rigidity could prolong the crisis into 2026. “Egos must be set aside. Space must be created for one another,” he said, noting that while ceasefires with external adversaries had been achieved, internal political tensions remained unresolved. Police remained deployed around Adiala Jail, sealing access routes and closing nearby markets, causing inconvenience to local residents.