CJ Afridi advised PTI to 'operate within system'

PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan has confirmed that the chief justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi, counselled the former ruling party to "operate within the system" and not to resort to the politics of boycott.

Gohar was part of a PTI delegation that met with Justice Afridi on Friday. The meeting took place a couple of days after the CJ met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

During the meeting, the party had conveyed to Justice Afridi that it did not recognize the 26th Constitutional Amendment—the very amendment that paved the way for Justice Afridi's appointment as the top judge—and urged him to refrain from "court packing".

The delegation had also urged the chief justice to "put your house in order" and ensure the rule of law and the Constitution in the country, asserting that the justice system had been reduced to an "instrument of crime" under his watch and it was his responsibility to fix it.

Responding to a question with regard to the discussions that took place during the rare interaction, Gohar admitted that the CJ advised them to "operate within the system".

"We met with the chief justice yesterday. Our charge sheet against the government is quite extensive. We are not very satisfied with the judiciary either.

"During the meeting, we presented our concerns regarding the judicial attitude. Treating the PTI in this manner is neither fair for democracy nor for the rule of law," he said while talking to reporters at Islamabad district courts.

Barrister Gohar said a delegation of a nascent alliance of opposition parties has gone to Karachi.

"We are forming an alliance with all opposition parties. The movement aims to uphold the Constitution and prevent vote rigging. Political parties have their own manifestos and internal processes, which is why such movements take time," he said.

He said the PTI had initiated negotiations with the PML-N government with an open heart, hoping for a resolution through dialogue. However, the government did not take it seriously and acted hastily.

Responding to a question with regard to firebrand politician Sher Afzal Marwat, who was expelled from the PTI recently, Gohar Ali Khan said it was an internal party matter. "We follow a due process when someone violates party discipline," he said.

The PTI chairman said party founder Imran Khan will take a decision regarding those who left the party in the wake of a government crackdown after May 9, 2023. "Akbar S Babar also claims to be part of the party, but that is his personal perception. The PTI's stance is clear," he added.

To a question about Imran's open letters that he recently wrote to army chief General Syed Asim Munir, he said the letters addressed serious concerns to prevent a rift between the military and the people. "The PTI's internal matters are completely in order and there is no forward bloc within the party," he added.