ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said on Wednesday that his party had taken a “principled position” on national security and demanded that briefings be held in Parliament.
The federal government decided on Tuesday to convene a closed-door briefing for leaders of political parties and parliamentary leaders on the rapidly evolving regional security situation, including the latest developments involving Iran and the ongoing tensions with Afghanistan.
PTI, however, said it would boycott the briefing unless family and lawyer meetings with party founder Imran Khan are allowed immediately under court orders.
Addressing the media in Parliament on Wednesday, Gohar said the PTI had sought a comprehensive briefing on regional tensions, including Afghanistan and the Iran-US dispute, but questioned how long his party could continue to attend joint sessions when, he claimed, its parliamentary presence was not recognised.
“When we are not given importance and our presence in Parliament is not recognized, why should we participate [the session]?” he asked.
He said authorities did not allow meetings with the PTI founder, nor facilitate access to his family members or personal doctors. “Your attitude is extremely tough and then you expect us to sit with you for a photo session. It’s not going to happen,” he said.
Gohar said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had approached him a day earlier and conveyed a message to attend the Prime Minister’s briefing.
He expressed gratitude to the JUI-F chief for his move and termed his opinion respectable, but added that the matter had been placed before the party’s political committee due to reservations.
He maintained that the PTI had consistently stood by the country on national security issues, whether during tensions with India, Afghanistan or the Iran-US dispute. “Our statements are on record,” he said.
