The opposition has welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s response regarding the appointment of the chief election commissioner and Election Commission of Pakistan members, with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Achakzai deciding to re-engage with the prime minister.
Sources said a formal consultation process with the prime minister will be requested, while opposition leaders also discussed the PTI’s planned September 27 march and preparations for an All Parties Conference (APC).
Achakzai met PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, while Raja Nasir Abbas also participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, Achakzai took the opposition leaders into confidence over the prime minister’s letter and discussed the response regarding the appointment of the chief election commissioner and ECP members.
The leaders also held consultations on the PTI’s September 27 protest and agreed to contact all political parties before convening an All Parties Conference.
The APC is intended to develop a collective approach to resolving political issues. A meeting of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Ain -e-Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution) was also decided for September 15, where progress on preparations for the APC will be reviewed.
Gohar says no negotiations currently underway
Speaking to the media at Parliament House, Barrister Gohar said there are contacts with the government but denied that formal negotiations or back-channel talks are currently taking place.
He said the door to dialogue remains open and maintained that political issues can only be resolved through negotiations. However, he stressed that the PTI would not take even a single step forward without the consent of party founder Imran Khan.
“The founder will decide” with whom, when, where and under what conditions any negotiations will take place, Gohar said.
Gohar said the PTI has always advocated dialogue, adding that the party had previously formed committees and made announcements for negotiations. He said the government had not shown seriousness in the past and that PTI’s calls for dialogue were wrongly interpreted as a sign of weakness.
The PTI chairman said that, legal matters aside, negotiations should take place soon to find a political solution. If talks are held, he said, they must be conducted with seriousness and sincerity.
Gohar also said there should be no policy based on “give and take” and urged the government to consider the matter and respond.
No govt offer to stop Sept 27 march
Barrister Gohar said the government had made no offer to halt PTI’s planned September 27 “Insaf March”. He invited everyone to participate in the march, insisting that it was not a matter of personal preference or a “hobby” but a ‘March for Justice’.
Gohar assured that the march would not lead to chaos or disorder under any circumstances. He reiterated that the PTI would not move forward without Imran Khan’s approval.
Gohar confirms contact with Mohsin Naqvi
Responding to questions about the prime minister’s letter, Gohar said the government had finally provided a response. He confirmed that the PTI maintains contact with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, saying the party had never denied having such contact. However, he declined to disclose details of those communications.
Gohar again stressed that no decision would be taken without the PTI founder’s consent.
He said dialogue remained the founder’s policy and that Imran Khan would determine the timing, venue, participants and conditions for any negotiations.
The latest developments come as opposition parties consider a broader political consultation through the proposed APC while PTI prepares for its September 27 march.
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