PTI not holding 'backdoor talks' with anyone, clarifies Gohar

PTI chairman says Imran only sought names for negotiations, but none taking place right now

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is not currently holding 'backdoor talks' with anyone, clarified party chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Monday, just a day after it was reported that the incarcerated founding party founder Imran Khan had green-lit negotiations with the establishment and political forces.

The party chairman's remarks came while addressing a presser alongside party leader Sher Afzal Marwat following a meeting with Imran at Adiala jail.

He stated that the ex-premier had only sought names for holding negotiations, but no talks were being held right now.

"Today, the PTI founder was barred from addressing the media by the jail administration, while several of our legal representatives were denied entry into the jail," he added.

He said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had been "exonerated of all charges, while the PTI founder was being punished in fabricated cases".

"The police are being used against our party. Maryam Nawaz dressed in police attire sends a clear message that the police are subordinate to them,” Gohar quoted the PTI founder as saying during their meeting.

Taking over from Gohar, PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat said the party founder criticised Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s appointment as deputy prime minister, and termed him Nawaz's "frontman".

“Consultations are ongoing for the selection of the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and a final decision will be announced tomorrow," added Marwat, whose name is also in the running.

Addressing reports of former PTI leaders rejoining the party, they maintained that only Imran will have a final say on the matter.

A day earlier, it was reported that Imran had given the green light to his party for negotiations with both the establishment and political adversaries. However, he made it clear that any talks must play by the rulebook, stressing the party's willingness to sit down with both the powers that be and political adversaries for the greater good.

Read Imran gives PTI the go-ahead for talk

“The manner in which the negotiations will take place and in what environment should be decided first, only then will the way for the negotiations be paved with those who are the stakeholders,” he added.

PTI leader Shibli Faraz urged for the release of the PTI's female members and political detainees, insisting that legal proceedings should only be pursued where justified.

Moreover, Shehryar Afridi clarified that the PTI's objective is not to seek a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) for itself but rather to negotiate for the betterment of Pakistan's future.

He also mentioned Imran Khan's longstanding desire to engage with the establishment from day one, lamenting the absence of a response thus far.

Meanwhile, the PTI strongly condemned the economic “massacre” of farmers by the “mandate-thief government” and the “destruction” of their livelihoods under the guise of the “poor and flawed wheat procurement strategy” of the Punjab government.

A party spokesperson on Monday condemned the “harassment” of the farmers’ leaders through illegal raids, including the arrest of the Kisan Board Punjab (KBP) head, by the anti-kisan government.