Govt failed negotiations: Gohar

ABBOTTABAD/ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan Wednesday blamed the federal government for his party’s decision to discontinue the talks.

Talking informally with journalists at the Peshawar High Court Abbottabad Bench here, he said the party founder had given the go-ahead for talks and formed a committee to seek a democratic solution to the issues. “But there was no outcome even after a month-long parleys with the government. This was due to the government’s lack of interest,” said the PTI chief, expressing disappointment.

Gohar criticised the Peca Act, calling it a “black law” aimed at silencing the media.

Regarding the changes in the PTI KP chapter and naming Juned Akbar as the party’s provincial chief, the PTI chief claimed that Imran Khan had made the changes at the request of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan to ensure that he (Gandapur) could focus on his responsibilities.

Mumtaz Alvi adds: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Wednesday said if the government had shared its reply (to their demands) first, they would have considered it, but they did not want the negotiations and solutions to issues.

Talking to the media in Islamabad, he said Imran took the initiative in negotiations but all kinds of hardships were imposed on his party. “But despite that, we took the initiative in negotiations and put our demands before the government. The government delayed the negotiations. Had the government been serious, it would have given its reply,” he argued.

Gohar said the ‘doors of negotiations were closed not by the PTI but the government and those who did not want a political solution’. He also claimed that the government’s negotiation committee included some people who did not want the negotiations to succeed.

He pointed out that the government had said that it would respond in the committee room on January 28. “If the government had shared the answer with us first, we would have considered it. We had sought formation of a judicial commission, but the government did not respond, as it did not want the negotiations to take place and a solution to them.”

Replying to a question, Gohar clarified that he did not meet anyone except Army Chief General Asim Munir. Gohar said no change was coming in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa adding he had full confidence in Ali Amin, and a historic rally would be held in Swabi on February 8.

Separately, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz said the government was lazy in forming the commission. “Had a judicial commission been constituted, the truth would have come out and the government would not have lasted a day,” he said.