Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has called on the parliament to facilitate a path for negotiations, stressing that the narrative around May 9 must “settle now”.
Addressing the National Assembly today, Barrister Gohar stated, “We seek accountability for the injustices we have faced in this house through dialogue”.
“We want a path forward through negotiations in this assembly. A committee has been formed for talks, and it should not be seen as a weakness,” the chairman maintained.
He continued, “If we are not given a way through negotiations, we will be forced to take to the streets again. Do not push us to return to the streets”.
“Let us convene a parliamentary committee meeting, and the dust of May 9 should settle now.”
He further pointed to recent global events, referencing protests in countries like Brazil, where demonstrators entered legislative buildings without violent confrontation. “In those countries, did they fire bullets?” Gohar asked.
“Here, when we held a constitutional protest, the government responded with gunfire.”
He criticised the government’s narrative, particularly a statement from the Defence Minister that suggested the bullets were fired by the guards of PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur.
“It is absurd that the government refuses to acknowledge that bullets were fired.”
The PTI leader also raised concerns over the government’s handling of protests, citing the tragic deaths of eight people during the implementation of Sharia law in the past.
“The government filed charges but then apologized, and the issue was forgiven. Could the government not have offered solace to the martyrs?” he questioned.
He also addressed criticism of PTI’s use of the “Pashtun card,” asserting, “Our people who came out in protest were unarmed. We are not playing the Pashtun card.”
Gohar dismissed accusations that PTI was using protests for political gains, stating that PTI founder Imran Khan’s popularity was already proven by events like the February 8 rally.
“Imran Khan does not need rallies for popularity,” he said.
Yesterday, the government and opposition clashed in the National Assembly session, with Opposition Leader Omar Ayub accusing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of ordering security officials to open fire on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters on November 26.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif immediately refuted the claim, questioning the PTI leadership’s inconsistent statements about the number of deaths in Islamabad’s Blue Area.
He noted that the opposition had failed to provide any evidence to substantiate their claims.
This was the first National Assembly session since the November 26 standoff between PTI protesters and security personnel.
Both sides remain at odds over the alleged casualties, with PTI claims ranging from 12 to over 250 deaths. The government has repeatedly called for proof to verify these assertions.
The assembly session featured fiery exchanges, with members of PTI and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delivering impassioned speeches about the November 26 clashes and their aftermath.
