Gohar condemns constitutional amendment, ‘denial of rights’ to Imran, Bushra

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated on Tuesday that the government is attempting to divert attention from the 27th Amendment by discussing the potential 28th Amendment.

Speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan accused the country’s rulers of considering themselves above the law and losing public trust. He voiced strong support for the judiciary, stating that good judges should not resign and that his party completely opposes the creation of a new constitutional court. While such courts in other nations simply interpret the constitution, he alleged the government’s proposed version would have the power to make all political and constitutional decisions.

Khan affirmed that the PTI rejects both the 26th and 27th Amendments, arguing that a judiciary is only independent when it rules according to constitution and law. He also condemned the online trolling and allegations against Bushra Bibi, the wife of the imprisoned PTI founder. He dismissed a recent Economist report as baseless, noting it was published when both individuals are jailed and unable to respond. He stated that the party is considering legal action, which will be decided after consulting with them. Finally, he criticised politician Faisal Vawda for his remarks, stating that Bushra Bibi, a veiled woman who stays out of politics, deserves respect. In a related development, the PTI has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the denial of meetings and continued solitary confinement of former prime minister Imran Khan, calling it a major violation of fundamental rights and judicial authority. Filed by PTI Secretary General Advocate Salman Akram Raja, the petition describes Khan as a “Prisoner of Democracy” who has been held in a “death cell” for 833 days under what it calls fabricated, politically motivated cases. The petition states that the Islamabad High Court has failed to act on contempt petitions pending for eight months, despite repeated violations of its orders. In a separate development, Aleema Khan, sister of the PTI founder, held a press conference outside Adiala Jail, protesting against denial of meeting with her brother. She claimed that for the past two weeks, only one person has been granted access, suggesting this is an attempt to block the founder’s message from reaching the public. She condemned the restrictions on family and lawyers as a violation of both fundamental rights and court orders. She confirmed that the PTI founder has already shared his strategy with the party leadership.

Also, PTI parliamentarians, led by Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, General Secretary Salman Akram Raja and Allama Nasir Abbas, held a protest rally from the Parliament House to the Supreme Court against the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Party members, workers and lawyers chanted slogans and displayed banners opposing the amendment. In a separate protest, the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) staged a rally outside the Parliament House and marched towards the Supreme Court. The demonstration included TTAP Chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PTI’s Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja, MWM’s Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, ex-Speaker Asad Qaiser, and Senator Fawzia Arshad. Addressing the media, Mahmood Khan Achakzai announced TTAP will organize a national conference on the amendment, inviting legal experts and journalists, and will observe a nationwide “Black Day” on Friday, November 21.