Workers putting pressure on PTI for Imran Khan’s release, says Gohar

• Gohar terms SC seat verdict unjust.
• Asserts no-trust motion in KP will not succeed.
• PTI chairman downplays internal rifts in PTI.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said the party was facing intense pressure from its workers to secure the release of former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan.

Appearing on Brackly News’ programme “Capital Talk”, Gohar stated that PTI was voicing its demand for Imran’s release at every available forum.

The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August 2023 after he was booked in multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism since his ouster from power via the opposition’s no-trust motion in April 2022.

Commenting on a recent ruling by the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court, he expressed disappointment, stating that seats won by PTI were unjustly allocated to other parties.

Speaking on the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the legislators will not join any party adding that the no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will not succeed.

“They will fight bravely; whoever is interested can bring a no-confidence motion,” he threw up a challenge to the rivals.

About the intra-party differences, Gohar said differences arise in the party but these should not come out. 

He made it clear that Ali Amin was as credible to them as was Junaid Akbar (provincial president of the party). He regretted the denial of permission to meet Imran and the budget approval conditionally.

It may be noted that amid calls for reconciliation, there have been multiple reports and claims regarding former ruling party’s alleged efforts to secure Imran’s release under a “deal”.

The incarcerated former PM had recently given a go-ahead to the party for initiation of a dialogue with the government, following an offer extended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in May.

A report published in The News later in that month suggested that no deal or concession had been extended to Imran or his party despite rumours making the rounds in political circles.

Far from being recipients of an offer, it was the PTI leadership that was quietly working behind the scenes, seeking to open a back-channel dialogue with both the government and the establishment.

Later in June, Gohar expressed the party’s readiness for establishing serious and result-oriented contacts for the country’s sake.