News
January 17, 2025
PTI Leaders Meet Army Chief in PeshawarRawalpindi: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Thursday that he and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur held a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.
“If talks have begun, it’s a welcoming gesture,” Barrister Gohar said while speaking outside Adiala Jail. “All demands have been presented.”
He said that the talks took place in Peshawar during the army chief’s recent visit there. “Direct talks with the establishment are welcome,” he said. “There is a positive development from the other side.”
PTI leader Asad Qaiser also confirmed to Dawn.com that the meeting had taken place.
Talking about his participation in Monday’s talks, Barrister Gohar said that any meetings he had were with the permission of PTI founder Imran Khan. He said he met Imran today and briefed him in detail about the Monday talks.
“Imran said the meeting was positive and better for the country’s stability and that there should be talks and solutions to issues should be found through political processes.”
The same was confirmed by Imran’s sister Aleema Khan while talking to the media outside Adiala Jail.
Earlier in the day, Gandapur also told reporters that he, along with Gohar, had met Gen Munir. Responding to a question about “backdoor negotiations”, the KP CM remarked, “There is no need for backdoor talks when everything is happening out in the open.”
However, a statement attributed to security sources on PTV News’s X account claimed to provide the “real story of the conversation” the two PTI leaders had.
“The conversation with Barrister Gohar and Ali Amin Gandapur in Peshawar took place in the context of security and counter-terrorism issues in KP. Barrister Gohar tried to discuss political issues. Barrister Gauhar was told to discuss political issues with politicians.
“The conversation was presented out of context. An attempt has been made to give political color to the discussion on security issues, which is regrettable,” the statement said.
Earlier this month, Gohar had said that his party established “backdoor contacts” with the military before their November 2024 protest but said the “link had now been severed ”.
The relationship between the PTI and the establishment has turned exceedingly sour since the events of May 9, 2023 , when the party’s supporters held countrywide protests following Imran’s brief arrest. - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
Back to Pakistanlink Home