PTI’s Protest Strategy
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Saturday announced that party founder Imran Khan will be responsible for formulating the protest strategy in the coming days.
Addressing a press conference alongside other PTI leaders, Barrister Gohar dismissed rumours about internal defections and reiterated the party’s unity and commitment to its political course.
“It is a misunderstanding to think that PTI leaders have joined any other party,” he stated firmly. “In the past, PTI members have even rejected offers worth billions of rupees. Their loyalty cannot be bought.”
Barrister Gohar also addressed concerns about the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, asserting that the PTI-led provincial government remains intact and resilient. “No conspiracy will succeed against the KP government. It is working to combat terrorism effectively,” he said, while expressing sorrow over the tragic Swat River incident. He urged the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide additional resources, including helicopters, to improve the province’s disaster response capabilities.
Commenting on the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on reserved seats, Gohar claimed that Imran Khan may have anticipated the decision. “We are disappointed with the ruling,” he said, adding that the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) must closely monitor his courts, regardless of direct involvement in the constitutional bench. “Getting justice today is far more difficult than it was in 1996,” Gohar remarked, criticizing what he sees as a judicial bias against PTI.
He reaffirmed PTI’s alliance with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), stating that despite the Supreme Court’s decision, PTI leaders will continue to remain part of the SIC. “We contested elections from 850 constituencies and after being elected as independents, we joined the SIC. Our status should not be misunderstood,” Gohar explained, adding that eight judges of the Supreme Court had allocated those seats to PTI before this latest ruling.
Gohar also said the party would have accepted the verdict more willingly if the case had been heard by a full bench. He emphasized that PTI still does not view its members as independent lawmakers despite the legal setbacks.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Shibli Faraz added his voice to the criticism, accusing the state of violating the constitution on multiple fronts. “Elections were delayed, and the constitution was applied selectively to suit certain interests,” he said.
Faraz further expressed concern over Pakistan’s economic direction, claiming that the country’s financial sovereignty is being compromised. “Our finance minister is a banker, not a policymaker, and he’s only focused on securing more loans,” Faraz said, referring to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. He added that the federal budget appears to have been crafted according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) guidelines rather than national needs.
He lamented the widespread poverty in the country and criticized the government for continuing to rely on foreign loans while offering no relief to the struggling public. Faraz also blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to ensure transparent elections, which he claimed has led to the erosion of public trust in democratic processes.
The press conference, rich in political and institutional critique, reflected PTI’s growing frustration with the judiciary, electoral bodies, and economic managers. The party appears to be gearing up for a major protest campaign, with Imran Khan expected to lead its direction from behind bars.
