Gohar Calls for Talks Without Conditions
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has called for unconditional talks with the federal government as the party’s long march continues towards Islamabad.
His remarks came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif renewed the government’s offer of dialogue but linked fresh negotiations to PTI ending its long march and protests. The prime minister said the government would sit with the party once the march and sit-ins were called off.
Speaking to the media at Parliament House, Gohar said negotiations should continue without interruption. He maintained that dialogue should take place even if the PTI march reaches Islamabad.
Gohar said there should be no conditions requiring the party to take a particular step before negotiations could resume. He said PTI had already formed a negotiating committee before the government’s latest offer.
PTI Plans to Continue March
Gohar said there was no reason for the long march not to reach Islamabad. He said the convoy would move from Peshawar towards Khyber and then towards Pir Wadhai in Rawalpindi.
He also said PTI supporters from different parts of the country were expected to join the march along the route. Gohar said he could join the convoy from a location directed by the party leadership.
The march began from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa earlier this week and is being led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The protest is linked to PTI’s demands concerning party founder Imran Khan and broader political issues. Reuters reported that thousands of supporters had started the march towards Islamabad after negotiations with the government failed to produce an agreement.
Gohar Raises Concerns Over KP Situation
The PTI chairman also described the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as serious. He called for political and constitutional processes to be followed and opposed the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency in the province.
Gohar said political issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than measures outside the constitutional framework. His comments come amid tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration.
The government, meanwhile, has said that constitutional and political measures remain available if the PTI continues its protest. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has also said that the resumption of talks remains conditional on PTI ending its marches and protests.
PTI Wants Dialogue to Continue
Gohar said negotiations should continue until the two sides reach a solution. He argued that dialogue should not be restricted by a deadline or tied to the prior fulfilment of specific conditions.
The latest statements highlight the gap between the positions of the government and PTI. The government is asking the party to call off the march before talks resume, while PTI is calling for negotiations to continue without first ending the protest.
The political standoff comes as the PTI-led convoy continues its journey towards Islamabad. Both sides have publicly maintained that dialogue remains possible, but they currently disagree on the conditions for restarting negotiations.
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