No preconditions for talks, just clear demands: Barrister Gohar

ISLAMABAD:

A day after PTI leader Asad Qaiser said that talks with the government would only begin after meeting three key demands, party chairman Barrister Gohar Khan reiterated on Saturday that no preconditions had been set for dialogue.

He maintained that demands, including the release of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, had indeed been raised.

Speaking to the media outside the district courts, Barrister Gohar reiterated that Imran Khan has always supported negotiations as the way forward, adding that political issues merit political dialogue for resolution.

He lamented that earlier negotiations had shown promise but were abruptly discontinued.

The PTI lawyer also denounced the government's heavy-handed response to the November 26 protests on D-Chowk. "In many instances worldwide, protests don't result in violence, let alone gunfire. In our case, tear gas shelling began even before protesters had fully gathered."

Barrister Gohar, who is the incarcerated party founder's counsel, also revealed that PTI has filed a petition seeking Imran's discharge from the May 9 case, terming the allegations baseless.

"All fabricated cases against Imran Khan will lead to his eventual acquittal," he added.

It is noteworthy that on Friday, Asad Qaiser clarified that PTI has not yet entered into dialogue with the government, asserting that talks would only proceed after the acceptance of three demands: the release of Imran Khan and other detained party activists and the formation of a judicial commission of senior Supreme Court judges to investigate the May 9 riots and the November 26 crackdown.

Achakzai urges dialogue

Meanwhile, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai called on PTI to delay its planned civil disobedience movement and prioritize dialogue with the government.

Speaking to a private news channel on Saturday, Achakzai, who heads the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), stressed the importance of finding a political solution to the country's challenges.

"If problems can be resolved through dialogue, there's nothing better than that. However, if talks fail, the movement will have to proceed," he said, urging both sides to focus on a clear roadmap for resolving political tensions.

Achakzai proposed elections within four months as a potential outcome of successful negotiations and announced plans to visit Peshawar to offer prayers for PTI martyrs and the victims of violence in Kurram.