PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said the party had been unable to get justice through existing forums and was therefore raising its voice before the public.
Addressing a press conference along with Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman in Islamabad, he rejected the idea of imposing governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to suppress public dissent.
Earlier, a delegation of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) met the JI chief and invited him to attend an All-Parties Conference (APC). The JI accepted the invitation.
The TTAP delegation comprised Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Aamir Dogar and Salman Akram Raja. The meeting focused on the political situation in the country, particularly developments in KP.
Gohar said the APC will discuss every issue, seeking JI’s help to formulate its agenda.
He said KP was facing terrorism and that people were losing their lives. The province, he said, was using its own resources to fight militancy. The PTI leader complained that the federal government had not provided the province its due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman:
The JI emir said his party would not support any government move to suspend the Constitution, impose governor’s rule or declare an emergency in KP.
He said political parties needed to sit together and resolve the country’s problems through dialogue. Rehman said the ruling elite were taking unilateral decisions while keeping the people out of the political process.
The government and PTI should hold meaningful negotiations, he suggested.
The JI chief said PTI founder Imran Khan was the head of his party and its leadership should be allowed to meet him. He also called for resolving concerns regarding Khan’s health and implementing Supreme Court decisions in letter and spirit.
He demanded the release of women detained in connection with political protests, including Imran Khan’s sisters. Rehman said detained and ailing political leaders should be granted bail in accordance with the law.
“Delays in talks by the government are aggravating the situation. If the government makes progress, the problems will resolve,” Rehman said.
He said JI stood with all political forces seeking restoration of the political process, protection of fundamental rights and continuation of democratic activity. He also urged political parties to support JI’s positions on inflation, petroleum levy and payments to independent power producers (IPPs).
The JI delegation included Vice Emirs Liaqat Baloch and Mian Muhammad Aslam, Islamabad JI chief Nasrullah Randhawa and Information Secretary Shakil Ahmad Turabi.
