Gohar: Imran Khan did not welcome end of PTI government in KP

PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that Imran Khan did not welcome the end of PTI's government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, near Adiala jail.

Gohar rejected a report aired by a television channel. He said: "One thing I must strongly refute — which some TV channel ran, claiming Khan Sahib said it was very good that his government ended in KP — that is completely false". He added: "Khan sahib never used any such words".

According to Gohar, Imran Khan was fully aware of the governor's rule and the emergency imposed in the province. Salman Safdar, who met him, said Mr Khan knew of both and did not speak much about politics during the meeting.

Geo News reported that Safdar met Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at Adiala jail on Monday after repeated requests. The meeting lasted around 40 minutes and covered health, living conditions and pending legal matters. It was the first since April 8, after a long period of restricted access. Express News quoted Gohar as calling it the first in 380 days.

Gohar said restrictions on meetings had raised political tension and that regular meetings could have prevented the emergency and governor's rule in KP. He said the party had tried to arrange political meetings for himself and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and that Safdar brought no political news from Adiala.

On the province, Gohar denied reports of a forward bloc and said all PTI lawmakers in KP remain with Imran Khan. He said any appointment of a KP chief minister would be decided by Mr Khan. He called the disappearance of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and the provincial assembly speaker beyond comprehension. The case on their recovery has been sent to a larger bench of the Peshawar High Court.

Gohar called for lower political tensions and repeated the demand that Imran Khan receive medical treatment and that his personal doctors be given access. He said there had been no discussion about moving him to Bani Gala or an Islamabad prison. Daily Pakistan reported that he said the party was working toward an all parties conference.

Gohar also said he had asked that detained PTI member Noreen Niazi be kept in hospital one extra day. Express News and Daily Pakistan reported that he said the party does not support anti-state narratives on social media.