No differences with US: PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that he views the meeting between the US ambassador and the PTI leader and other party members positively.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after meeting the party’s founding chairman, Gohar said that he had informed Imran Khan about the meeting with the US ambassador and discussed matters such as human rights violations.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the apparent contradiction between PTI’s criticism of US interference and such meetings being welcomed, Gohar clarified, “We don’t have any differences with the US. That was a policy statement we made; the matter is over now.”

He explained that while interference concerns were raised at the government level, it didn’t mean severing ties with the US.

Gohar further explained that the US ambassador wanted to meet with the leader of the opposition, who belongs to the PTI and is the party’s secretary general.

He emphasised that the meeting was unrelated to the cipher issue and that he discussed political and legal matters with Imran Khan, including the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Regarding the denial of a meeting with Imran Khan to senior party member Sher Afzal Marwat, Gohar clarified that Marwat’s name had been removed from the list, similar to what happened with another member previously. He attributed this to selective treatment by the authorities.

Asked if Marwat’s denial of a meeting had anything to do with the PAC chairman issue, Gohar suggested that Marwat might return when his case is heard. He dismissed speculation about Marwat’s removal from consideration for the PAC chairmanship.

Gohar emphasised that the PAC chairman issue was an internal matter of the party and should be considered settled. He declined to disclose who would be appointed the PAC chairman until an official notification was issued.

Regarding the DG ISPR news conference, Gohar said that he would state this after reviewing the details, as he was busy inside the jail.

He mentioned that Imran Khan was briefed on the Supreme Court order regarding reserved seats, expressing satisfaction with the decision, which aligned with PTI’s viewpoint.

Gohar expressed optimism about the SC’s final decision in favour of the PTI, hoping that the party’s 78 seats would be restored.

He referenced former prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s statement and the former commissioner of Rawalpindi’s remarks about election rigging, urging the judiciary to expedite the resolution of election-related applications and form a judicial commission. He announced plans for peaceful protests on May 9, with ticket holders leading the demonstrations and a resolution proposed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. He reiterated the demand for the formation of a judicial commission on May 9.