Attacking a Uniformed Person Is Regrettable, Barrister Gohar Condemns Sarhad University Incident

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has condemned the incident at Sarhad University in Islamabad, saying it was deeply regrettable that a uniformed official was attacked and his uniform was grabbed.

Speaking to the media at Dahgal Checkpoint in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar said he was deeply saddened after watching footage of the incident.

“Attacking anyone in uniform is condemnable. A person wearing a uniform also has a family and self-respect,” he said.

According to media reports, a scuffle broke out between students and a government official at the private Sarhad University in Islamabad. Viral footage showed uniformed Islamabad Police personnel present at the scene.

According to the initial police inquiry, students were protesting against the alleged conduct of the director of the Human Resources Department at Sarhad University’s Islamabad campus. When the official arrived at the scene, an altercation reportedly broke out after some students allegedly heckled him.

University administration officials reached the location while the scuffle was underway. The official subsequently resorted to aerial firing before leaving the area.

Gohar Says Plan to Transfer Imran Khan Was Changed at Last Moment

Speaking about PTI founder Imran Khan’s medical treatment, Barrister Gohar said he had been informed that the plan to transfer Imran Khan to a hospital was changed at the last moment.

He said that had the plan not been changed, the process would have progressed considerably. He added that it would have been better if Imran Khan had received treatment at Shifa International Hospital, but he was not disappointed and would make another attempt.

Gohar said contacts and dialogue would not be ended, adding that all discussions held so far had focused solely on Imran Khan’s health. He noted that Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar had also confirmed that contacts and discussions had taken place.

He stressed that Imran Khan’s health should not be politicised or turned into a matter of political rhetoric, and that the Supreme Court’s orders should have been implemented.

According to Barrister Gohar, the government had never informed PTI about security concerns regarding Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital. He said PTI had already made it clear through statements issued by its core and political committees that workers should not go to Shifa Hospital.

He said Imran Khan was taken to PIMS instead of Shifa, but claimed that he did not receive the treatment there that was required.

Contempt Petition Filed Over Supreme Court Order

Barrister Gohar said the Supreme Court’s order could still be implemented and that his petition had already been numbered. He added that an urgent hearing had also been requested.

He said the contempt petition had been filed to ensure implementation of the Supreme Court’s order and concerned civil contempt of court.

Gohar also dismissed circulating CCTV footage allegedly showing his meeting with Imran Khan as fake. He said Noreen Niazi had been happy after her meeting with Imran Khan last Tuesday and stressed that both Imran Khan’s health and security were important to him.

Calls for Opposition Unity

The PTI chairman also said that unity among opposition parties was urgently needed under the current circumstances.

He said the united opposition would adopt a joint strategy in the National Assembly and Senate, highlight public issues and hold the government accountable.

He added that reforms were also needed in the judiciary, Election Commission and provincial affairs.