Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has made it clear that anyone wishing to negotiate should speak directly with him before November 24, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan said on Tuesday. But the ex-PM’s lawyer and sister have stated otherwise.
“It is need of the hour that establishment stays away from politics,” Ali told reporters outside the Adiala Jail. “The ‘call’ made by the PTI founder for November 24 is final. This is an important day for PTI supporters.”
Khan has urged his followers to march towards Islamabad on November 24 for the “restoration” of democracy and the judiciary.
Ruling coalition leaders have slammed the PTI for causing unrest in the country with such protests.
In reaction, the PTI founder set four demands for ending the protest. They are related to the recent steps taken by the government like the 26th Constitutional Amendment. According to former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, Khan’s demands “are not wrong.”
“November 24’s protest aims to uphold the rule of law and the Constitution. The public remains steadfast in their support for the PTI founder,” Ali said and reiterated that anyone wishing to dialogue must do so directly with the PTI founder before the protest deadline.
Meanwhile, former premier’s lawyer Khalid Yousaf in an interview with a private TV channel stated that Khan met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in the jail where his client expressed his willingness to negotiate.
Yousaf revealed that Gandapur and Gohar approached Khan to seek permission for negotiations if contact was made. Khan responded that negotiations would only occur with “those who hold power.”
The lawyer further stated that the PTI founder has allowed discussions on his demands, emphasising that the protest would only be called off if those demands are met. Moreover, the KP chief minister informed the PTI founder about the preparations for the protest.
Ali also confirmed the meeting between Gohar, Gandapur, and Khan, along with the approval for negotiations.
Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari stated that Gandapur left after meeting Khan at the jail without making any statements, suggesting that there was something “being concealed.”
Later, Gohar told reporters that the government has not made any contact regarding negotiations. He added that whenever there was contact, the party could discuss it with their apex committee or consult with the PTI founder.
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“Neither has the government reached out for negotiations nor have we initiated contact,” he stated.
When a journalist asked if the KP CM would disappear again on November 24, Gohar replied that no one, including the chief minister, would be absent on that day.
In response to another question about whether he would acknowledge the government’s discussions with the KP chief minister, he stated: “Ali Amin is our chief minister and the party president for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
