'Resistance, not reconciliation': Politicos at National Conference urge PTI to lead struggle

Lawyers criticised what they termed marginalisation of judiciary, while journalists spoke out against the PECA Act

A national conference held under the banner of Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan on Saturday agreed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf should adopt a path of resistance rather than reconciliation, pledging support for such a course.

According to Express News, an opposition-led forum at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) House in the federal capital brought together representatives from political parties, the legal community, media, and civil society. Speakers criticized recent constitutional amendments and denounced what they called the weakening of parliament.

Lawyers criticised what they termed the marginalisation of the judiciary, while journalists spoke out against the PECA Act. Participants at the conference collectively agreed that “resistance, not reconciliation” should be pursued against what they described as the role of the establishment, urging PTI to take the lead and promising their support.

Gohar calls Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentences ‘murder of justice’

Speaking at the conference, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had once again been sentenced, calling the development a “murder of justice.”

He said the party had believed that after May 2025, “the chapter of convictions and sentences would come to an end” and the country would move towards “the supremacy of justice.” He added that PTI had endured pressure without resorting to chaos or sit-ins, “never taking the law into its own hands,” and continued to hope their leader would be released, allowing the Constitution, democracy and rule of law to move forward.

However, he said repeated verdicts “which go against the constitution and the law” were spreading despair among the public and raising questions about the future of democracy.

Read: ATC hands 10-year jail terms to Yasmin Rashid, Omar Cheema, and other PTI leaders 

Barrister Gohar said that after the latest convictions, he posted on X that the party’s leadership had “collectively been handed sentences amounting to 70 years.” He added that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had already received 60 years collectively, and seven more cases were pending against the leadership.

“If convictions are handed down in those cases as well, the total sentence could reach 140 years,” he said, questioning “how long such punishments would continue.”

He said judges were no longer secure, political leaders unsafe, and even those in parliament not protected. Referring to Asad Qaiser’s repeated remarks, Gohar said that despite advising against such statements, circumstances compelled them to acknowledge that the country was “effectively under martial law.”

He said the two-day conference would serve as a platform to debate crucial issues, stressing that “neither extremism nor undemocratic forces should be allowed to prevail.”

Gohar added that Imran Khan was not in prison for a crime but “for the freedom of the people,” saying when the public secured its freedom, “their leader will be released.” He called on political actors not to obstruct solutions. “When leaders fail to open paths for the public, people are eventually forced to find their own way,” he warned.

Read More: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 17 years in Toshakhana 2.0

He said electoral manipulation in by-elections and other developments had deepened the crisis. He added that he had sought permission from Imran Khan for negotiations, saying Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas had been assigned to decide whether to pursue talks or resistance, “with the backing of the PTI founder and millions of voters.”

Gohar said the movement was named Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan, adding that had the situation been anticipated earlier, “it would have been called the Movement for the Restoration of the Constitution.”

Achakzai calls for dialogue

Addressing the conference, Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai called for reconciliation among political forces, saying differences should be set aside to pull the country out of crisis.

He said democratic dialogue remained possible and added that if negotiations were to take place, permission should be granted for talks with PTI founder Imran Khan.

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Achakzai said that while sentences were being handed down, even basic rights such as “meetings with family and political leaders” were being denied. He called on Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Nawaz Sharif and Jamaat-e-Islami to sit together, saying the mandate of the February 8 elections should be recognised by acknowledging “the winner.”

He also referred to a report alleging corruption worth Rs5,309 billion and stressed that “state institutions should perform their duties without interfering in politics.”

Street movement call

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party had gone to court expecting a hearing but instead “received an unexpected verdict in the Toshakhana-II case.” He said the situation was “no longer about a single political party but about a broader system of injustice.”

Raja said Imran Khan had conveyed a message for the nation to “prepare for a street movement,” saying “there is no alternative left.”

He said restrictions were being imposed under legal provisions to prevent mobilisation, but stressed the need for collective action. He added that PTI was fighting a “battle of principles, not for power,” standing with those “whose voices were unheard.”

Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said “no options remain” and the party would now take to the streets. He said “resistance is the only path forward,” rejecting any claims that PTI could be intimidated and demanding justice “based on merit” for Imran Khan.

K-P CM denounces political injustice

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said an “unjust decision” had been announced against their leader. He said injustice existed even before recent constitutional amendments and that democratic institutions had long been paralysed.

Afridi said Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were “innocent” and that “false cases” had been filed. He said political parties should remain political and not “tools for others,” calling the struggle one for the strengthening of democracy.

Senior politician Javed Hashmi said prisons and sacrifices had historically led nations to freedom, adding that rights were secured through “struggle, not retreat.” He stressed unity and rejected divisive narratives, saying he opposed confrontation-driven politics but noted that “meaningful dialogue had repeatedly failed.”

Reversal of amendments sought

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch said efforts should be made to strengthen voices calling for impartial elections. He said political parties, media and civil society must unite on a national agenda, where the minimum agreement should be “the protection of the constitution.”

He called for the reversal of constitutional amendments passed, in his words, through “artificial majorities and bad faith,” arguing that they undermined judicial independence and fundamental rights.

Support for resistance

Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari said PTI remained the most popular party because “the public had given its mandate to Imran Khan.” She urged PTI to decide whether it would pursue resistance or reconciliation, saying “compromise is not possible in the face of oppression.”

Mazari said the issue was now about “the rights and mandate of the people,” calling for collective condemnation of alleged mistreatment of political figures and activists. She criticised what she described as “unprecedented actions against judges” and restrictions on journalists, saying truth-telling had become criminalised and reporters were facing arrests for doing their jobs.

Journalist Matiullah Jan said the country was under an “openly enforced form of martial law,” while former senator Mushtaq Ahmad called for resistance in “cities and public spaces.”

Read: Imran says justice avenues shut, calls on supporters to prepare for street movement

Senior journalist Habib Akram said restrictions on the media had intensified under the PECA Act, questioning whether any “peaceful path forward” remained.

PTM leader Mohsin Dawar said Pakistan had been trapped in the same cycle for decades, adding that convictions of political leaders were nothing new and “only the affected party changes over time.”

The conference concluded with a renewed call for resistance over reconciliation, urging collective action to protect constitutional and democratic rights.