Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reiterated on Thursday that his party remains committed to engaging in meaningful and constructive talks with the federal government. He opposed the imposition of governor’s rule or emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), urging political leaders to resolve the ongoing crisis through dialogue.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Gohar emphasized that the PTI had not abandoned its readiness to negotiate without preconditions, viewing dialogue as essential amid rising political tensions and a worsening security situation in the province. He stated, “We are still ready for meaningful and positive negotiations,” and cautioned that imposing governor’s rule or declaring an emergency would not address the country’s challenges.
He appealed to decision-makers to exercise restraint and compassion for the public, stressing that political disputes should be resolved through talks rather than actions that might escalate tensions further. Gohar also defended KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, rejecting claims that Afridi had supported terrorists, and reaffirmed PTI’s alignment with the state’s efforts against terrorism.
Expressing hope that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman would play a positive role in facilitating negotiations, Gohar noted that PTI had attempted to bring Fazlur Rehman into the opposition alliance. He also thanked JUI-F, the Awami National Party (ANP), and Jamaat-i-Islami for opposing the imposition of governor’s rule in KP.
Gohar’s comments come days after talks between the government and opposition collapsed without an agreement. The main issues causing the deadlock were access to imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan and cooperation from the KP government on counterterrorism efforts.
The government and opposition held two rounds of formal negotiations on October 2 and 3 at the National Assembly Speaker’s chambers, aiming to ease tensions ahead of PTI’s planned long march to Islamabad. These talks followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to negotiate.
The opposition delegation included PTI members and representatives from the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance, while the government side comprised ruling coalition representatives. PTI’s key demands were immediate access to Imran Khan for consultations, his transfer to Shifa International Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment, and the establishment of a medical board including his personal physician.
The government, meanwhile, sought cancellation of the October 4 long march and cooperation from the KP government on federal counterterrorism measures. Despite talks continuing late into the night on October 3, the sides failed to reach an agreement, with discussions breaking down around 3 a.m. on October 4 due to unresolved disagreements.
PTI stated that the primary obstacle was the government’s refusal to grant immediate access to Imran Khan. The party insisted its leadership required consultations with their founder on significant political and national issues and offered to set aside other demands if this was accepted. PTI also sought Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital and the formation of a medical board for his treatment.
While the government agreed to restore meetings between Imran Khan and his family and lawyers, it did not accept the additional medical and consultation demands. Another major sticking point was counterterrorism cooperation. The government requested KP’s support for federal counterterrorism initiatives and emergency measures in the merged tribal districts within 72 hours.
The opposition proposed that authorized representatives from both federal and provincial governments develop a comprehensive, mutually agreed strategy for peace and counterterrorism, involving consultations with political parties, elected officials, tribal elders, and other stakeholders.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for the collapse of talks, accusing the provincial government of withdrawing commitments related to counterterrorism cooperation, the National Action Plan, action against militant groups, and coordination with federal authorities. PTI rejected these claims, attributing the deadlock to the government’s inflexibility on Imran Khan’s access and the counterterrorism framework. Both sides exchanged accusations over the failed negotiations.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had urged PTI to call off its long march and sit-in, assuring that the government would engage in talks if the protest was withdrawn.
