Khan has made a big decision, Barrister Gohar confirms

Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Barrister Gohar Khan has stated that party founder Imran Khan has called off ongoing negotiations as the government failed to establish the judicial commission to probe the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 events.

Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Thursday, the Chairman of PTI stated, “If the government today does not announce the formation of a judicial commission comprising three most senior judges either from the Supreme Court or from the High Court to probe the two events, the dialogues will be called off.”

“I wished for the negotiation to progress with the government, but political differences run so deep that there is no sign of the ice breaking,” Gohar quoted Imran Khan as saying.

The development comes as negotiations between the Shehbaz Sharif-led government and PTI were initiated in late December to ease political tensions. However, despite the three rounds of talks, PTI complained that their demands had not been addressed.

The fourth round of talks was expected to take place on January 18 between PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) led government.

PTI, in the third round of talks on January 16, had presented its charter of demands before the government negotiation committee, asking for the release of the political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to inquire about the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 events.

“We are not waiting for assistance from any foreign country,” Gohar said in reply when a reporter asked whether PTI is anticipating any message from President of United States (US) Donald Trump in the forthcoming days in Imran Khan's favour.

Moreover, Gohar claimed that Imran Khan had affirmed that he would fight his cases in Pakistani courts and would secure his release.

Additionally, the PTI Chairman remarked that PTI would mobilise all opposition political parties, and efforts would be made against an independent judiciary and the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

The former ruling party, in its written submission to the government's negotiation committee, said that it wanted the conduct of the proceedings of the May 9, 2023, and November 24, 2024, commissions to be open to the general public as well as the media.

The party said that it would identify the political prisoners who were arrested following the events of May 9 and November 24 to 27 or any other political event elsewhere.