- WEB DESK
- November 12, 2026
Barrister Gohar meets Qureshi amid speculation over possible PTI-govt thaw
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- Umair Rana
- November 12, 2026
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Thursday visited the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore to inquire after the health of party Vice Chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a development that comes amid growing speculation about a possible easing of political tensions between the opposition party, the government and the establishment.
Barrister Gohar accompanied by Qureshi’s son and PTI MNA Zain Qureshi visited the former foreign minister, who is receiving medical treatment at the hospital.
The visit came amid a series of developments involving the PTI leadership and the family of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, including the release of two of his sisters, his recent eye treatment and an extended meeting with his lawyers at Adiala jail.
Political observers believe these developments could help create an environment for renewed political engagement between the PTI and the government, potentially bringing some relief to the party leadership.
However, there has been no formal confirmation of any understanding or negotiations between the sides.
Qureshi was shifted from Kot Lakhpat Jail to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology earlier for medical examinations after reportedly becoming dizzy and collapsing while walking inside his barrack, sustaining injuries to his knee and arm.
Jail authorities subsequently collected his blood samples and sent them to Shaukat Khanum Hospital for testing.
His transfer followed demands by PTI’s core committee for a comprehensive medical examination. Qureshi had previously been taken to the same hospital in May 2025 after complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath.
The latest developments have also coincided with the release of Imran Khan’s sisters Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail on Thursday.
The two had been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, since September 21, 2026, amid PTI protests demanding the former prime minister’s release.
Their release came after weeks of detention and legal challenges, although their sister Aleema Khan remains in custody. A PTI spokesperson said the party had no information about when she would be released.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan underwent an eye treatment procedure during an overnight visit to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad earlier.
According to a hospital statement issued on Wednesday, the former prime minister was transferred from Adiala jail to Pims during the intervening night of November 10 and 11 for a medical examination and follow-up treatment on the advice of his treating ophthalmologist.
The medical development was followed by a nearly four-hour meeting between Imran and his lawyers at Adiala jail on Wednesday, after the Islamabad High Court directed authorities to facilitate access to the incarcerated PTI founder and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa and Barrister Salman Safdar met the couple, with Khosa subsequently confirming that the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment had also come up during their discussion.
However, he did not disclose what Imran had said about the proposed legislation.
Khosa said the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and lasted around four hours, with discussions focusing primarily on legal matters, pending cases and appeals.
He added that Imran appeared alert and in good spirits but continued to complain about his eyesight and blood pressure.
Safdar, meanwhile, said in a post on X that jail authorities had allowed him to meet Imran and Bushra Bibi from 4pm to 7pm.
He said both had provided comprehensive legal instructions concerning their cases and confirmed that he would continue representing them in their main appeals in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
28th Amendment could open another political avenue
The developments come as the government is reportedly preparing to bring the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment before parliament, with the creation of new provinces among the issues under consideration.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has already publicly called for the creation of new provinces and a referendum, arguing that the people should decide whether new administrative units should be established.
Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Naqvi urged all political parties to seek public opinion on the issue, saying he would support whichever position the people endorsed.
He said that if the public opposed the creation of new provinces, he would stand by that decision, while public support would mean that new provinces should be established.
The interior minister also stressed that any major political decision would require consensus among coalition partners, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The proposed constitutional amendment could provide another reason for political engagement between the government and PTI, as a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.
If the ruling coalition cannot secure the required numbers independently, support from PTI lawmakers and other opposition parties could become important.
Political observers believe the government’s legislative agenda could therefore create an opportunity for engagement with PTI, potentially opening the door to a broader understanding that could ease tensions between the opposition party, the government and the establishment.
They also believe that any improvement in relations could provide some relief to PTI leaders facing legal proceedings and other difficulties.
However, the latest developments do not, by themselves, establish that a political agreement has been reached or that negotiations are under way.
Whether the emerging situation leads to meaningful engagement will depend on the government’s approach to its constitutional agenda, PTI’s response and the willingness of the political stakeholders to find common ground.
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