ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Thursday a forward bloc was not being formed in the party at the provincial or the National Assembly level.
Talking to Geo News, he said talks about the forward bloc in Punjab, KP, and the National Assembly were baseless, wrong and contrary to the facts and even before it, talks about the forward bloc in Punjab had surfaced. The PTI is united under the leadership of the party founder, Gohar said.
Gohar clarified that PTI is a democratic party where differences of opinion are natural and welcomed. “PTI is a democratic organisation where every worker and office-bearer enjoys complete freedom of expression,” Gohar stated. “Having diverse opinions does not mean the party is divided or that a forward bloc exists. Expressing individual views should not be mistaken for internal rifts.” He contended that whether someone is on a committee or not is an internal matter of the party.
Separately, former PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, MNA, said he had been ‘shown the door’ by the party thrice in a year. Speaking to the Geo News programme, he said that given the upcoming trials, it won’t take long for the word ‘resigned’ to be erased from his name within the party. He said that people have no respect for those who betray their party or leader. He cautioned that while forming a forward bloc may serve short-term interests, it will ultimately prove damaging in the long run.
To a question about Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, he said that he [Ali Amin] played a big role for the party. God forbid if he is removed from the CM House, he added.
“Gandapur is not a flatterer; his fault, if any, is that he does things for the party without even being asked,” he added.
Separately, despite being the day scheduled for meeting with the PTI founding chairman Imran Khan in Adiala jail as per the court order, the opposition leaders were not allowed to meet him. After waiting for hours outside the jail, they severely criticised the government and the relevant authorities and said that the Constitution and law were violated. “We waited outside Adiala jail for four hours; we informed the jail administration several times, but no one was allowed to meet the PTI founder. We will finalise the contempt of court petition in this regard today,” they announced while talking to the media outside the jail.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub slammed the government as well as the jail authorities for violating the Constitution and the law once again. He said the Adiala jail superintendent had assured the court about the meeting, but they were denied access to the PTI founder despite waiting for hours outside the jail. He said those coming to meet murderers in jail are made to sit at the visitor centre, but they were made to stand at the prison gate just to humiliate them. “We did not meet Imran Khan; that is why we are talking to the media here,” he pointed out.
The PTI leader strongly criticised the government and said that all these measures violated basic human rights and democratic values. He announced that they would raise voices against the injustice at every forum. “They are not ashamed that a case of biscuit theft has been registered against me,” he recalled. Omar Ayub said people were being mistreated in Balochistan; they were being beaten up and their movement was being restricted, alleging the whole situation showed the failure of intelligence.
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas expressed grave concern over the prevailing situation in the country, accusing the government of pushing the nation towards destruction. “There is no peace in the country, and a dangerous game is being played,” he remarked. He warned that the current rulers would ultimately fall victim to the chaos they were fueling. “They will not be able to escape the fire they have ignited. History shows that the fate of oppressors always ends in ruin.”
Raja Nasir Abbas termed the entire system oppressive, saying, “The nation is facing systematic injustice that is robbing people of their rights, but we will not abandon the struggle.”
Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz strongly condemned the non-implementation of court orders, calling it a blatant disrespect to the judiciary. “Today, court orders were violated and left unimplemented,” Faraz said. He clarified that the issue was not about personal disrespect to politicians but an affront to the judiciary itself. “Failing to implement court decisions is not an insult to us, but to the very institution responsible for upholding the rule of law.” He said it was the judiciary’s responsibility to safeguard its credibility and enforce its rulings. “The judges must protect their dignity and authority, not ours,” he asserted. Faraz warned that if the judiciary fails to act decisively, its reputation will continue to suffer.
Sunni Ittehad Council chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza strongly criticised the prison administration, accusing it of defying the decision of a larger bench of the high court. “This is a moment of reflection for the judiciary,” he said. Raza further alleged that following the blatant disregard for the larger bench’s verdict, the prison superintendent now appears to be the most powerful figure, ignoring the authority of courts.
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Junaid Akbar voiced serious concerns over the disregard for the Constitution and court rulings and stated that influential individuals had shown that the Constitution and judicial decisions hold no significance. He warned the defiance would only deepen the existing divisions. “Our morale will not be shaken; we will continue our struggle,” he affirmed.
Junaid Akbar said people remain steadfastly connected to the PTI founding leader and would continue to stand by him. He cautioned that this behaviour was harmful not only to the Federation but also to the state and its institutions. “If this attitude is not changed, it could lead to dangerous consequences,” he warned.
PTI lawyer Niazullah Niazi raised questions on the role of the judiciary and the jail administration. He said the jail administration’s defiance of the court decision has now become a problem for the reputation of judiciary. He announced that they were finalising a contempt of court petition on not being allowed to meet Imran Khan.