Imran tells PTI MPs to protest in parliament

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan directed party lawmakers to protest in parliament against last week's crackdown on workers in Islamabad, which resulted in 12 deaths, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said on Monday.

Speaking to the media after meeting Imran in Adiala Jail, Gohar said Imran commended the workers for their participation in the November 24 protest and urged unity within the party. He added that Imran would decide the party's future course of action.

"We met PTI founder Imran Khan today to discuss the Islamabad protest. He was unaware of the November 26 incident due to limited access to newspapers and television," Gohar told reporters.

"Today we told Khan about the PTI martyrs. He expressed deep sorrow. He strongly condemned the shooting at the sit-in and the demonstration in Islamabad and ordered that treatment of the injured must be ensured," he continued.

"The founder paid tribute to all the workers and leaders, who came out. His message is to go to the National Assembly and the Senate, raise this issue in parliament and protest. He [the PTI founder] will announce the next course of action later," Gohar added.

According to Barrister Gohar, Imran Khan urged party members to "maintain unity as opponents are sowing divisions." The PTI chairman said that the party had only one demand: "Why were the shots fired? They should not have been fired. We condemn whoever is responsible."

Gohar demanded the formation of an inquiry commission into the incident and said that action should be taken against whoever fired the shots during the protest. He added that Imran had instructed for raising the D-Chowk matter in parliament as to why the shots were fired.

Responding to a question about the party's claims about the death toll from the authorities' crackdown on the protest, Gohar rejected the claims of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. "We will not make irresponsible statements; we have testimonies about only 12 deaths."

The PTI chairman explained that no leader was asked to come to the D-Chowk in Islamabad, emphasising that there was no point in coming to the D-Chowk. Responding to another question he said that Imran paid tribute to the party's lawmakers from Punjab, who were "going through difficult times".

The PTI chairman told the media persons that false news was being spread about the health of Imran Khan. "The PTI founder is completely fine in Adiala Jail," Gohar said.

 

The PTI started its march towards Islamabad on November 24, led by Gandapur and Imran's wife Bushra Bibi. Two days later, the marchers reached Islamabad's D-Chowk. The protesters dispersed after the authorities launched a crackdown. Both Gandapur and Bibi escaped from the scene.

Sources close to the PTI chairman revealed to The Express Tribune that Gohar wanted the protest to be called off for the success of the his backdoor talks with the authorities. The source quoted Gohar as saying privately that Imran could have been freed in December, had the situation not deteriorated.

According to the sources, Gohar said that the PTI founder had "100% ordered for the protest in Sangjani", as proposed by the government. He also tried to convince Gandapur to go to Sangjani instead of D-Chowk. He also told Gandapur that he would beseech Imran to call off the protest.

According to the sources, all the issues were settled with the establishment in the backdoor negotiations. During the conversation, the sources said, Barrister Gohar shrugged his shoulders when asked about Bibi's decision to go to D-Chowk. "What can I say," was his terse reply.