Pardon for 19 May 9 convicts not a big thing: Gohar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Thursday said that the announcement of pardon to 19 criminals convicted by the military court was not a big progress.

Talking to the media upon his arrival at the Parliament House here, he explained that the pardon for 19 people was not a big progress, as basically 67 people had filed appeals. Only 19 have been pardoned whereas appeals of others are in process.

He emphasized that his party was against the trial of civilians in military courts, saying that no civilian could be tried in a military court as the Supreme Court had decided. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters here, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said that their demands for talks were clear i.e. political prisoners should be released and a judicial commission should be formed on the incidents of November 26 and May 9.

“We have to sit together and talk, we are politicians. This is a Form 47 government and we are talking to them under the doctrine of necessity,” he maintained.

Separately, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry again stated that PTI founder chairman Imran Khan has said that he had been offered to move to Banigala (his residence in Islamabad), but he will not move anywhere until people are released without trial.

Talking to the media outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, he said that the decision against Imran Khan would be the same as the first four decisions against him in the 190 million Pounds reference.

Faisal Chaudhry said that the PTI founder emphasized that the time for the party had come, and no force could stop it. He added the founder condemned the punishment of former Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister Khalid Khurshid.

The lawyer said that the negotiating committee was demanding the formation of a judicial commission and release of prisoners, whereas a section (in the government) wants to sabotage the talks. He charged that the Toshakhana-II was one in a series of false cases.