- Says there was no directive to prevent aid to Pakistan in the letter to global lender
- Terms decision to join SIC ‘the best’ considering circumstances at that time
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Saturday categorically declared that PTI had nothing to do with a demonstration staged outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) office, asserting there was no directive to prevent aid to Pakistan in the letter to the IMF.
Speaking to the press outside Adiala Jail, Barrister Gohar clarified that while a protest did occur outside the IMF office abroad, there was no directive to prevent aid to Pakistan in the letter to the IMF. “Instead, the focus was on ensuring clean and transparent elections,” he added.
This statement was made amidst accusations of attempting to disrupt the bailout package negotiations with the newly-formed government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Gohar further addressed concerns surrounding PTI’s representation in the Senate elections, stating that the party had finalised its candidates for the upcoming elections from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad.
He highlighted the ongoing legal battles, particularly referencing the 190 million pounds reference being heard and the interpretation of Article 51, expressing hope for a favourable outcome.
“We had expressed this apprehension before the Chief Justice of Pakistan that if the ‘bat’ symbol was taken away, then reserved seats would become an issue. Our 80 reserved seats which have been taken from us is the main issue, he said, adding that we hope the Supreme Court will decide the matter in our favour.
Gohar said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not scrutinise the reserved seats for our party’s women, adding that after the election we were forced to join another political party. He claimed that the chairman of PTI-Nazriati was picked up and threatened against supporting PTI.
The PTI chairman said that we had to join any political party for two purposes, adding that it is clear in the Constitution that no political party can get more reserved seats than the seats won. He said the decision to join Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) was the best considering the circumstances at that time.
He said that Asad Qaiser never said that the resolution in favour of Palestine will not be allowed in National Assembly, adding that this is a misunderstanding which may have happened due to the noise in the house. On the resolution on Women’s Day, he said women who are enduring prosecution should also be highlighted.
Gohar said we are trying to strengthen the faith in democracy and ensure that money is not spent in the Senate election.
He further said that the secrecy of the vote in the Senate election should be maintained and that the ECP should oversee the procedure for verifying this vote.
