Sept 27 protest call irrevocable: Gohar

Says political tensions must ease, but protest plan stands

RAWALPINDI:

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday said the party's call for a September 27 protest was irrevocable, warning that if the judiciary failed to provide justice and parliament refused to hear them, the party would have no option but to take its grievances to the streets.

He also said the National Action Plan (NAP) should be implemented, adding that any appointment in the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) was an internal matter of the military.

Speaking to the media at the Dahgal checkpoint on Adiala Road, Gohar said the lack of meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan was a matter of concern and that the situation had reached its current point because of it.

He said the treatment meted out to Imran Khan was unprecedented for any political prisoner in the country's history, adding that had meetings taken place, messages could have been conveyed, and the situation could have moved towards improvement.

"Meetings not taking place is a matter of concern. This is why the situation has reached this point. The treatment being meted out to the [PTI] founder has never been given to any political prisoner in the country's history."

"If meetings had taken place, messages would have come, and the situation would have moved towards improvement. But the judiciary has also always disappointed us," he said.

He said the judiciary before the 26th Amendment had failed to ensure elections, while the present judiciary had been unable to secure even one meeting with Imran Khan.

"We have been pushed against the wall, and the party has been walled in," he said.

Gohar said the arrest and detention of PTI workers had begun ahead of the September 27 protest and questioned whether citizens had the right to take to the streets for peaceful protest.

He said PTI had made it clear that no one taking part in the protest would carry a stick or slingshot. "If the judiciary does not give us justice and parliament does not listen to us, then where should we go for justice? We will go to the streets. The public is tired of political tensions and friction."

"Everyone will have to take a step back, and only then can the situation improve," he added.

Regarding the issue of creating new provinces, the PTI chairman said the matter was highly serious and had public implications and should not be handled in haste.

He said the existing parliament had already passed controversial constitutional amendments and that further amendments would weaken the federation.

Regarding Imran Khan's sons, Gohar said PTI had not issued any statement on the matter. He said there was already a high court order concerning allowing Imran Khan to speak to his children and that the family would know what information the founder's children had.

"PTI has not issued any statement regarding the founder's sons. There is a High Court order regarding allowing the founder to speak to his children. The family will know what the founder's children have," he said.

Gohar also said PTI had neither used provincial resources for political purposes nor would it do so in the future.

He slammed Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for "an irresponsible statement" regarding K-P and terrorism, saying the party had not expected such a statement from her.