Political Crisis Can Still Be Resolved Through Dialogue: PTI Chairman

Islamabad: Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has emphasized that there is still time to resolve the ongoing political crisis through dialogue, while blaming the re-arrest of PTI leader Imran Khan as a key factor behind the failure of negotiations.
In an interview with a local news channel, Gohar stated that initial contacts had been made between the government and PTI, but he refrained from disclosing further details regarding the talks. He explained that the goal of these negotiations was to address the political disputes between the two sides.
His remarks came in response to speculations about a possible ‘deal’ between the government and PTI, with some government sources hinting at progress towards resolving key issues, including the release of Imran Khan. However, Gohar Khan held the government responsible for the collapse of talks, and denied the allegations against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, which were believed to have hindered the negotiations.
“We had engaged in some discussions and were hopeful for progress. All parties must recognize their responsibilities and show respect for one another,” Gohar said. “Despite this setback, there is still time to resolve matters peacefully through ongoing dialogue,” he added.
The PTI leader argued that Imran Khan’s re-arrest, following his bail in the Toshakhana case, was a significant blow to the negotiations. Khan’s re-arrest, which occurred after he secured bail, was seen as a key event that negatively affected the potential for any agreement.
The PTI-led protests in Islamabad, which began on November 24 and abruptly ended on November 27, further escalated the political crisis. Violent clashes during the protests led to the deaths of four law enforcement officers, while PTI claimed that at least 12 of its workers were killed and nearly a thousand arrested.
Despite the violence, PTI maintained that the unrest was a direct result of the government’s refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue. However, government officials denied using live ammunition and insisted that the deaths of law enforcement personnel were the result of the violent nature of the protests.