Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Barrister Gohar Khan on Wednesday revealed that party founder Imran Khan had allowed the submission of their demands to the government’s negotiation committee in writing.

 

Speaking to media persons outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar said that the jailed PTI founder had also allowed the party’s negotiators to hold a third round of talks with the government even if they were not allowed to meet him prior to that. 

 

The announcement marks the end of a deadlock that had been reported following second round of talks between the government and PTI. The government maintained that the PTI was hesitant to submit its demands in writing, whereas the opposition party said it would submit its demands only after meeting the jailed former prime minister.

 

On being asked whether the party leadership, if invited, would head to the oath-taking ceremony of incoming United States (US) President Donald Trump, Gohar said Khan had allowed them to accept any invitations from a friendly country.

 

 

“Imran Khan has allowed us to accept invitations extended by any friendly country,” the PTI chief said in response to the question asked in reference to unprecedented support shown for Khan by members of the upcoming federal government of the US.

 

“He has also allowed us to accept the government’s invitation in case a foreign dignitary visits the country,” Barrister Gohar added.

 

Commenting on an alleged deal offered to shift Khan from jail to his Bani Gala residence under house arrest, Gohar clarified that no such proposals had been presented.

 

“Good contact was indeed established with government representatives before negotiation formally started. [But] neither the establishment nor [Interior Minister] Mohsin Naqvi offered to release Imran Khan or shift him under house arrest,” he said.

 

It may be noted that the party chief’s statement rubbishes a claim made by Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, who one Tuesday claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur had conveyed her brother the offer to shift him from Adiala Jail to his residence in Bani Gala. While she did not clarify where the offer had come from, Khan himself also previously tweeted about such an offer being made to him.

 

To another question, Barrister Gohar said that the party had said “absolutely not” to the US in the past and if there was any interference, they would say so in the future as well.