RAWALPINDI:
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that meaningful talks with the government could move forward only if an enabling political environment was created.
He said simultaneous convictions of PTI workers and calls for dialogue were sending mixed signals.
Speaking to the media after being stopped by police near the Dahgal checkpoint while on his way to Adiala jail, Gohar said there had been no progress in talks with the government despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of dialogue from the floor of the National Assembly.
He said confidence-building measures were essential before the talks could bear fruit.
“The prime minister has invited us to a dialogue from the hall in the assembly. We have also said that political issues must be resolved by political means, but the government must create an environment for negotiations.”
“On the one hand, our people are being judged, and on the other hand, there are negotiations. This should not happen,” he lamented.
Commenting on prison meetings, Gohar welcomed the decision to allow Bushra Bibi’s family to welcome her. However, he expressed concern over restrictions on meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan.
“It is a good thing that Bushra Bibi’s family has been allowed to meet her. Meetings should take place. Imran Khan’s family should also be allowed to meet him, but 36 weeks have passed and no meeting has taken place. It is a matter of concern,” he said.
Clarifying reports surrounding last month’s protest at Chungi No. 26, Gohar said he had not conveyed any message about any meeting.
He said the family supported Imran Khan to be shifted to a hospital for treatment. He recalled that a meeting with Bushra Bibi was also planned for the previous week, but that it could not take place because her family did not arrive.
