Gandapur, Gohar meet Imran again

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Wednesday held another long meeting with the party supremo and former prime minister Imran Khan at the Adiala jail.

It was learnt that the meeting between the three lasted for two hours, after which Gandapur and Gohar left the jail. This is the first meeting after Imran authorised the two on Tuesday to engage with the ‘handlers’ representative(s) till Thursday.

Sources report that Ali Amin Gandapur briefed Imran on the logistics and strategy for the protest and sit-in planned for November 24. He also provided updates on efforts to mobilise the party activists and supporters. The former prime minister emphasized the importance of maximising participation to ensure the event’s success.

Barrister Gohar joined the discussions, reinforcing the legal and organisational framework for the protest. The leaders also deliberated on the possibilities of engaging in negotiations with the government, aligning these talks with PTI’s broader goals.

The November 24 protest comes as the PTI intensifies its campaign against alleged electoral fraud in the February 2024 elections and demands the release of detained party members. The protest is part of a larger strategy to reclaim what the party describes as the stolen mandate and to push for greater political transparency and judicial independence.

Ahead of the meeting, heightened security was observed at Adiala jail and its surrounding areas. Additional police were deployed. Following the meeting, Gandapur and Gohar departed for Islamabad without addressing the media.

Separately, Faisal Chaudhry, lawyer of the PTI founder, said that if the talks progress till Thursday (today), there would be no protest but celebration.

Talking to the media outside the Adiala jail on Wednesday, he said the party founder chairman has said that “if negotiations make progress by tomorrow, then it is fine, if the talks do not progress, then we will definitely protest”.

He said that Imran has emphasized that it takes two to clap; negotiations would be held with those who have the real power, adding that no deal was being made and negotiations would be held on their demands.

Faisal said that Imran has denied the news of spending Rs1 billion on the protest, calling it baseless. He quoted Imran as saying that they had no option left but to protest. He further quoted Imran as saying that political parties keep the country together. After May 9, he has given a call for protest for the second time and that he has given time for talks till Thursday.