Gohar says governor’s rule in KP could trigger law and order situation

SWAT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has once again offered negotiations to the federal government, saying his party has a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism while warning that the problem cannot be solved through Governor’s Rule or a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking to the media in Swat, Barrister Gohar said the government had shown no seriousness during negotiations and stressed that talks can continue even during wartime. He said there was still time for the government to step forward and engage in dialogue.

Gohar said the PTI approached negotiations with goodwill but no final agreement could be reached on the draft points because, according to him, the government displayed obstinacy.

He said discussions had taken place on five points, but the government did not agree to a single point. He added that the PTI made sincere efforts during the talks, but the government did not yield.

The PTI chairman said that if the government was sincere about negotiations, it should facilitate a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan. He also said the opposition had demanded a meeting between the leader of the opposition and the prime minister.

Gohar said a committee for negotiations had been formed in collaboration with the party’s allies and reiterated that dialogue remains possible.

Speaking in Swat, Gohar said negotiations take place even during wars, rejecting any suggestion that political dialogue should be abandoned because of prevailing tensions. He said the government had shown no seriousness regarding negotiations and urged it to step forward while there was still time to engage in dialogue.

The PTI chairman maintained that his party had made a genuine effort to find common ground but the government had failed to respond positively.

Gohar said the PTI has a zero-tolerance policy regarding terrorism and called for a unified strategy to deal with the security challenge. He said the government itself had raised the issue of terrorism during negotiations, to which the PTI proposed working together on the matter.

The PTI chairman said his party advocated a unified narrative against terrorism across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab, arguing that a coordinated national approach was needed.

He rejected Governor’s Rule or the imposition of a state of emergency as solutions to terrorism, saying the eradication of terrorism in KP cannot be achieved through such measures.

Gohar said unconstitutional measures would push the country into a dead end. He claimed that Governor’s Rule effectively exists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even without a formal declaration.

He said the federal government must stop interfering in the province and questioned how peace could be established when the chief secretary and inspector general of police were allegedly taking orders from others.

Gohar also claimed that the deputy commissioner of the province was imposing Section 144 at the behest of others. He questioned the absence of PTI ministers and MPAs in the province, asking where they had gone.

The PTI chairman said his party was neither quitting the government nor dissolving the provincial assembly. However, he warned that if unconstitutional measures were taken, PTI lawmakers would completely boycott proceedings of parliament, the Senate and the provincial assemblies.

Gohar said 76 MNAs, 25 senators and 197 MPAs from Punjab and KP would boycott proceedings under such circumstances. He also alleged that the federal government had intervened to install a “weak, crippled government” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Gohar claimed that PTI had secured the support of 20 million people in Punjab but that its mandate was stolen. He said his party had repeatedly approached the courts, claiming it had gone to the high court 25 times and the Supreme Court 19 times but justice had not been served.

The PTI chairman also said court orders were being ignored, adding to the party’s concerns about the political and legal situation.

Gohar made it clear that PTI’s Islamabad long march had not been stopped and said peaceful protest was the party’s democratic right.

He said the long march would continue and that the party would follow the designated route. He described PTI supporters as peaceful and reiterated that peaceful protest is a right in a democracy.

The PTI chairman said the government still had an opportunity to engage in dialogue instead of taking measures that could further deepen political tensions.

Gohar also alleged that non-political sisters had been picked up and sent to Kot Lakhpat Jail. He raised the issue alongside his broader criticism of what he described as unconstitutional actions and interference in the province.

The PTI chairman maintained that his party had approached the negotiations in good faith and had proposed cooperation on major national issues, particularly terrorism.

Despite his criticism of the government, Gohar once again extended an offer for negotiations, saying the PTI remained willing to engage if the government demonstrated sincerity.

He said the government should arrange a meeting with Imran Khan if it genuinely wanted negotiations to move forward.

Gohar stressed that the PTI’s position on terrorism remained clear, saying the party would maintain zero tolerance while opposing Governor’s Rule and a state of emergency as solutions for restoring peace in KP.