Blaming Imran Khan’s arrest for the collapse of talks, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan offered the government an opportunity to resolve the ongoing political crisis, stating that “there is still time” to address the issues through continued dialogue.
In an interview with a local news channel, Gohar explained that initial contacts had been made to resolve the political differences between the government and PTI but did not provide further details on those discussions. He suggested that these talks were aimed at settling the disputes between the two sides.
His remarks came in response to rumors of a potential “deal,” with some government sources suggesting that progress was being made, particularly on issues like the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
However, Gohar firmly placed the blame for the breakdown of the negotiations on the government, rejecting accusations against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, that were said to have hindered the talks.
“We had some discussions and were optimistic about making progress. All parties must recognize their responsibilities and respect one another,” he said. Nevertheless, he emphasized, “there is still time” for the matter to be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
Gohar attributed the failure of the talks to the rearrest of Imran Khan after he secured bail in the Toshakhana case, an event he believed severely impacted the chances of reaching an agreement.
The PTI’s protests in Islamabad, which began on November 24 and abruptly ended on November 27, further escalated the political crisis. The protests, which turned violent, resulted in the deaths of four law enforcement officers, while PTI claims that at least 12 of its workers were killed, with around 1,000 arrests.
Despite the violence, PTI insists that it was the government’s refusal to engage in genuine talks that led to the unrest. Government officials, however, have denied using live ammunition and maintain that the deaths of the law enforcement officers occurred due to the violent nature of the protests.
Ali Muhammad Khan, another PTI leader, also commented on the dialogue, stating that Imran Khan has not closed the door on negotiations and that PTI has set up a committee to explore further discussions.
In an appearance on Express News’ Centre Stage program, he remarked, “If dialogue progresses, it’s a positive development. In my view, dialogue is the only way forward; there is no other solution. No party wants to see Pakistan in ruins.”
