The founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, categorically denied having granted any member of the party to engage in negotiations with the establishment, according to the president of the PTI, the lawyer Gohar Ali Khan.
Addressing journalists outside of Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison on Tuesday after meeting the former Prime Minister, Gohar rejected recent complaints by Senator of the PTI Azam Swati, who had suggested that Khan had approved Backchannel talks to stabilize the country’s political situation.
Swati, in a recent television interview, had referred to possible meetings with key personalities and even proposed to involve former president Dr Arif Alvi in the negotiation process.
However, Gohar clearly indicated that Khan has not authorized such initiatives or puts pressure on anyone to negotiate an agreement. “The founder of the PTI said that he had not put any pressure on anyone to conclude an agreement,” he said, adding that Khan had published six declarations at their meeting.
He also discussed the mining and mineral bill presented in the assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the founder of the PTI would present an official position after consultation with political leaders, in particular the KP Minister -Chief, Ali Amin Gandapur.
The bill has aroused criticism from the opposition parties and certain members of the PTI, who argue that it compromises provincial autonomy. The KP government, however, maintains that the bill aims to limit Minie exploitation and encourage investments.
Khan has also shared concerns about Afghan refugee problems and regional dynamics involving Afghanistan. On internal questions, he asked the members of the party to avoid public criticisms of each other, urging unity while PTI plans to form a broader opposition alliance.
“The founder of PTI said that all the opposition parties will have to come together on a single platform for [the protection of] democracy, ”he noted.
He criticized the prison authorities for limiting access to Khan, revealing that if only two lawyers were approved for the meeting, five were authorized inside.
Gohar also condemned the continuous refusal of visits to the Khan family, in particular their sisters, despite clear orders from the High Court of Islamabad authorizing bimensual meetings.
