PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has rejected claims by party leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif regarding attempts to meet incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, insisting that the leadership exhausted all available options to gain access to him.
Speaking to reporters in Peshawar on Monday, Gohar described Saif’s assertions as baseless and said the party had repeatedly pursued meetings through court proceedings and political negotiations.
“We made every possible effort to meet the PTI founder through the courts and negotiations, but despite all our efforts, we were not allowed even a single meeting,” he said.
He added that securing access to Imran was also among PTI’s key demands during negotiations.
Strongly rejecting Saif’s position, Gohar remarked: “All of Barrister Saif’s claims are false. I reject them.”
Earlier, Saif had told Geo News programme Jirga that Allama Raja Nasir Abbas was in direct contact with influential figures in the establishment, clarifying that the contacts were not intended to obtain Imran Khan’s release.
Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party would not decide its position on the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment without consulting Imran Khan. He also said he was unable to control the party’s social media activities.
PTI denies divisions within party ranks
Separately, PTI rejected reports of internal differences, maintaining that its leadership and workers remained united under Imran Khan’s leadership and committed to his political vision.
In a statement issued after a meeting of the party’s political committee, PTI said there were no factions within the organisation and that all members remained committed to their common objectives.
The meeting also reviewed the prevailing political situation, inflation and law and order in the country.
The committee called for the immediate release of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, provincial assembly speaker and other detained lawmakers, describing their continued imprisonment as unlawful.
It maintained that keeping elected representatives behind bars was contrary to democratic principles and the people’s mandate.
PTI raises concerns over Imran, Bushra Bibi’s health
The committee expressed serious concern over reports that Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, had been transferred to hospital without their families being properly consulted.
It called for the Supreme Court’s directions regarding Imran’s medical treatment to be implemented without delay and demanded that his family receive regular updates about his health.
The party also sought unrestricted family access to the former prime minister, along with appropriate medical arrangements and regular meetings for Bushra Bibi.
PTI condemned the detention of Imran’s sisters and their treatment in custody, demanding their immediate release and permission to meet the former premier.
Party demands release of detained workers
The political committee also expressed concern over the arrests of MNA Adil Bazai and several other PTI leaders and workers, calling for the release of all those detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.
It said political differences should not result in victimisation or punitive action against individuals.
The party further denounced reported raids and vandalism at the residences of Omar Ayub, Sher Ali Arbab and Shah Ahad, saying that targeting the homes and families of political opponents was unacceptable.
Security situation under discussion
The meeting also reviewed the rising number of terrorist incidents across Pakistan, describing terrorism as a serious challenge that required coordinated and effective action.
PTI said ensuring the protection of citizens and their property was a fundamental obligation of the state.
The committee stressed that counterterrorism operations should focus on eliminating security threats and should not become a means of political retaliation.
