PTI's Gohar keeps talks option open ahead of Sept 27 march

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that his party had not closed the door to negotiations, but would continue its political struggle until the government acted on its core demands.

Gohar met National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Achakzai in Islamabad to discuss the political situation, the September 27 long march, cooperation among opposition parties and future strategy, the Express Tribune reported.

Speaking outside Parliament, Gohar said the long march planned for September 27 would go ahead and remain peaceful. He said protests could not be ruled out when justice was not provided, concerns were not heard and demands were not addressed. He added that the situation could improve if judicial orders were implemented and if issues related to meetings with and medical treatment of PTI founder Imran Khan were resolved. He also expressed concern over the arrest of Imran Khan's sisters.

Minute Mirror reported that Gohar signalled readiness for talks, but said the government did not appear focused on resolving the country's problems. The outlet quoted him as saying that Achakzai and the PTI leadership were prepared to talk, though meaningful negotiations were not taking place at present. Gohar also said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was already experiencing what he called "governor's rule" before any formal imposition, according to Minute Mirror.

In Lahore, PTI leader Hamid Khan, Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Babar Murtaza, former LHCBA president Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan and Lahore Bar Association (LBA) President Irfan Hayat Bajwa condemned the detention of Imran Khan's sisters and the cases registered against lawyers.

Hamid Khan said there was no rule of law in the country and that courts were losing their dignity. He said lawyers were ready to participate in the long march, calling peaceful protest the right of every political party. Babar Murtaza called the detention "illegal" and demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners. Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan criticised the alleged disregard of court decisions and said the government was damaging the country because of hostility towards one person. Irfan Hayat Bajwa said arrests and violence would not resolve political disputes and that the bar fully supported the September 27 march. The LBA general house would meet on Thursday to decide how lawyers would participate, the Express Tribune reported.

Separately, Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas said the country's problems could be addressed by facilitating a meeting with Imran Khan, Minute Mirror reported. Abbas claimed that even if a message about such a meeting had been conveyed, it had not reached him. The outlet also reported that PML-N leader Talal Choudhry warned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister over an Islamabad High Court order, though it gave no further details.