ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Saturday that Imran Khan has instructed party leaders to continue talks with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding proposed constitutional amendments.
During a press conference with other PTI leaders, Barrister Gohar stated, “We discussed the amendments with the PTI founder, who emphasized the importance of ongoing consultations, as this is a very sensitive matter.” This statement followed an “inconclusive” meeting with Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala jail.
Gohar revealed that Khan appointed four party members to assist in the consultations with JUI-F, expressing the desire for a broader consensus before providing further directions. The appointed members include Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Ahmed Bhachar, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
This development follows the special parliamentary committee’s “unanimous approval” of the draft for the 26th constitutional amendment. MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar mentioned that while PTI has agreed in principle to the draft, the party still has reservations on certain points.
Gohar noted that consultations on the fourth draft shared by the government are ongoing and that a final decision will be made after meeting with Khan. He began the press conference by discussing the PTI founder’s health and jail conditions, stating that Khan is in good health.
During their meeting, Gohar informed Khan about the ongoing negotiations with Fazl regarding the proposed judicial package. Khan described the talks as positive and instructed the team to continue discussions with the JUI-F.
“We will persist in our negotiations with Maulana Fazl. This type of legislation is unacceptable to us; we view it as unconstitutional and undemocratic,” Gohar asserted. He added that the PTI would not be able to vote until receiving clear instructions from Khan on the matter, stating, “We have not agreed to anything at this point.”
Meanwhile, the Adiala jail administration said that Khan is receiving all B Class facilities in accordance with the law. They assured that his diet, health, and study needs—including exercise—are given special attention, and there is an uninterrupted power supply at the jail.
The administration also mentioned that Khan has been assigned an inmate cook to prepare his meals, which include curry, desi chicken, yogurt, chapati, mutton, soft drinks, salad, and green tea for lunch, along with porridge, coconut water, and grapes in the evening. They confirmed that jail doctors examine Khan three times a day and reported that he has no health issues and is completely healthy.
