Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said Tuesday that meaningful political negotiations with the government could not advance unless an environment conducive to dialogue was established, arguing that the continued sentencing of PTI leaders and workers undermined the process.
Talking to reporters after police stopped him at a checkpoint while he was travelling to Adiala Jail, Mr Gohar said there had been no progress in contacts with the government. He recalled that the prime minister had invited the opposition to engage in dialogue on the floor of the National Assembly, adding that PTI had consistently maintained that political disputes should be resolved through political engagement.
He said it was contradictory for the government to discuss negotiations while PTI members continued to face court convictions. He argued that such circumstances were incompatible with a genuine dialogue process.
On national security, Gohar said PTI fully supported the government’s campaign against terrorism, describing militancy as a grave challenge that must be eliminated. He commended the sacrifices made by the armed forces and stressed that counterterrorism efforts should remain above political rivalry.
Addressing issues related to jailed party leaders, Gohar welcomed reports that Bushra Bibi’s family had been permitted to meet her, saying similar access should be ensured for the families of all detainees.
He also said Imran Khan’s family should be allowed to meet him, claiming that no family meeting had taken place for the past 36 weeks, which he described as a matter of serious concern. Gohar added that if Imran Khan required medical treatment, he supported the family’s demand that he be transferred to a hospital.
Referring to Bushra Bibi, Gohar said a meeting with her had been scheduled last week but did not take place because her family members did not arrive.
Meanwhile, authorities permitted Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashra Sheikh, and her sister-in-law, Mehr-un-Nisa Maneka, to enter Adiala Jail through Gate No. 5 for a family meeting.
In a separate development, police stopped Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja at the checkpoint as they attempted to proceed toward Adiala Jail.