PTI founder shrugs off Gandapur’s removal rumours as baseless 

RAWALPINDI: Speaking to media outside Adiala Jail, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Barrister Gohar said that PTI founder Imran Khan has rubbished all rumours pertaining to the removal of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur as new PTI president has been appointed . 

“Imran Khan stated clearly that he received a message from Ali Amin and was told during a meeting that Ali Amin was overwhelmed with work and not getting enough sleep. The new PTI president in KP has been appointed with his consent as well,” said Barrister Gohar. 

He added that much disinformation was being spread regarding Gandapur’s removal, which we condemnable: “He told Imran Khan that it would be better for someone else to handle party affairs so he could focus on governance. The PTI founder has also stated that no form of corruption will be tolerated in KP.”

Addressing the abrupt culmination of negotiation dialogue between government and PTI, Barrister Gohar said that there was a singular negotiation committee, and negotiations were taking place in one location, not at multiple places. 

“We sat with them with an open heart, but unfortunately, those negotiations could not progress further. It is a known fact that PTI has been struggling for justice and the rule of law for 27 years. We will join the rest of the opposition parties against the 26th Amendment and we stand with an independent judiciary and parliament,” he shared. 

He also said that if the party will hold any new meetings, the details would be shared prior to those engagements: “We will not conduct negotiations secretly. These were the only negotiations we had, which have now concluded. We will continue every form of struggle and protest, including going to the courts.”

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who was at the helm of the talks from the government’s side while speaking to media separately said that they waited for PTI members during the fourth session of the negotiation committee.

“We waited for PTI in the Speaker’s chamber, and a message was also sent from the Speaker’s side, but they did not come. PTI has practically ended the negotiation process, and constitutional and legal experts were consulted on PTI’s demands.” he said 

Siddiqui added that a final response has been prepared, but it was decided to not yet release it: “This committee will remain in place until January 31, and if PTI is willing to engage, we would be too. PTI has made a unilateral decision; they started this process and ended it themselves too. Our committee has by far demonstrated patience and tolerance, and despite civil disobedience and attacks on the military, we remained stoic.” 

He also said that the committee is neither waiting for PTI nor demanding their presence: “But if they come voluntarily, we are ready to engage. The committee, formed by the Prime Minister and only dissolved by him, assessed PTI’s demands with flexibility in response, and had they attended today, opportunities could have emerged. However, we will not initiate contact, though the Speaker may reach out, raising the question as to why PTI broke their covenant to join in the first place.”