PTI
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, led by Chairman Barrister Gohar, held a press conference on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgent need for free and fair elections in the country.
Joined by senior party leaders, the PTI chairman criticized the government’s failure to address political and judicial challenges, urging open negotiations and accountability within the judiciary.
Salman Akram Raja, a senior PTI leader, expressed deep concern over the delays in hearing the party’s election-related cases. “Our cases remain unheard, and progress is stagnant,” he stated, dismissing allegations of any backdoor dealings with the government.
Raja reaffirmed PTI’s commitment to transparency, emphasizing that the party seeks meaningful dialogue to resolve the prevailing political crisis.
Chairman Barrister Gohar also underscored PTI founder Imran Khan’s initiatives for dialogue, highlighting the formation of a negotiation committee to foster open communication.
He urged the government to engage sincerely, stating, “Negotiations should not be hindered by written or verbal demands.” Gohar further clarified that claims of a deal delaying Khan’s release were baseless, emphasizing that no political deal should influence judicial processes or timelines.
Addressing additional grievances, Gohar criticized the government for obstructing the PTI negotiation committee’s attempts to meet Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.
Despite submitting an application for a scheduled meeting, no PTI member was allowed access, reflecting what Gohar described as the government’s lack of seriousness in resolving critical matters.
Omar Ayub, another senior PTI leader, highlighted interference in the bail proceedings of PTI leaders, including Imran Khan. He called for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024. Ayub also emphasized the need for an independent judiciary, free from external pressure, particularly in sensitive bail cases.
Shifting focus to the country’s economic challenges, Ayub painted a grim picture of rising unemployment, a revenue shortfall of Rs450 billion, and the outflow of $14 billion over the past two years. “The government is failing to meet its targets and continues to rely on international loans while the public suffers,” Ayub remarked. He highlighted the migration of two million Pakistanis during the same period as a worrying trend.
PTI leaders concluded the press conference by reiterating their demands for transparent elections, open dialogue, and judicial accountability.
They criticized the government’s apathy and emphasized the need for urgent reforms to stabilize the economy and restore public trust. “The seriousness of the government will only be evident when they allow us to meet our party founder,” Ayub said, reaffirming PTI’s commitment to peaceful and democratic solutions.
