PTI's Gohar says no headway in govt talks amid 'cold' political atmosphere

• PTI chief says no roads will be blocked during protest.
• KP spent Rs45bn on police last year: Barrister Gohar.
• Gohar opposes court orders regarding Sep 27 protest.
  

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Sunday backed negotiations with the government, noting that talks have made no headway amid a "cold" political environment.

"Negotiations should take place, but currently the environment is cold; nothing could be worked out," the PTI chief told Geo News in Peshawar.

Barrister Gohar maintained that political problems required political solutions and that every side would have to take a step back to resolve them.

The former ruling party has announced a nationwide protest, including a march on Islamabad on September 27, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan and supremacy of the Constitution.

Gohar's statement comes just a day after Senate Opposition Leader and Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Vice Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had met him.

Speaking to the media with other opposition leaders at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, he said the interior minister had met them, and they had explained their position to him, according to The News.

Naqvi was told that only PTI founder chairman Imran Khan could decide whether to postpone the September 27 march, Abbas added.

During today's interaction, Barrister Gohar did not deny meeting Naqvi, saying that meetings continued to take place.

"I do not deny meetings with Mohsin Naqvi; meetings keep happening," he said.

The PTI chief said that efforts were underway to increase the capacity of the KP police, adding that the province had spent Rs45 billion on the police department last year.

"We will ensure that there is no political interference in the police," he added.

Regarding the KP chief minister’s powers over the police, he said the authority would not be used on personal preferences. "The chief minister will take steps for the improvement of the police."

Opposition to court orders on Sep 27 protest

On the court orders regarding the KP police chief, Barrister Gohar said that the court should not have sought an affidavit from the inspector general of police.

The PTI chief was referring to an Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruling, directing provincial governments, including chief ministers, to ensure that government resources are not used to facilitate people participating in any protest leading towards the federal capital.

In a verdict on a petition challenging the PTI's planned march, the court ruled that the provincial governments should ensure that no public servant is compelled to participate in any march leading towards Islamabad.

On Saturday, KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed directed police officers not to facilitate any march, rally or procession heading towards the federal capital.

Barrister Gohar said that an impression should not be created that the people and police of KP would end up confronting each other. "We will not break any law during the protest, nor will we block roads."

The PTI chief assured that government resources would not be used for the party's planned long march towards Islamabad.