ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has said that it is essential for the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to meet the party’s founder Imran Khan. Speaking to the media, he stated that if the meeting is not granted, the party will form a short-term cabinet, while approval for a full cabinet expansion will be sought from the founder later.
“The Chief Minister himself will decide who is most deserving to be included in the cabinet,” Gohar said, expressing hope that the KP High Court would permit the meeting. “If the Chief Minister’s meeting does not take place, the province cannot be left without a cabinet,” he added.
Responding to questions, Barrister Gohar said he was unaware of the number of vehicles allocated to the KP government, but had learned that the ones provided were previously used by the UN.
He reiterated PTI’s firm stance against terrorism, emphasizing that “implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) is essential.” He said the NAP clearly states that provincial capacity must be enhanced to combat terrorism, and it is the federal government’s responsibility to provide the KP government with reliable and modern vehicles for security operations. “There should be no politics over the issue of terrorism,” he stressed.
Commenting on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, Gohar said there must be a clear time frame for their return, but they should not be humiliated in the process. “We want these people to return peacefully and not pose any threat in the future. We are Pakistanis, and Pakistan is because of us,” he said, adding that no foreign soil, including Afghanistan, should be used against Pakistan.
He further remarked that the KP Chief Minister’s absence from the Prime Minister’s meeting should not be made an issue. He said PTI’s Sohail Afridi had submitted a legitimate request to meet the party founder — similar to how political leaders in the past had met with Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari.
Barrister Gohar also confirmed that PTI, following the founder’s instructions, had submitted Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s application for the position of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, endorsed by 74 MNAs.
Regarding the NA-18 Haripur seat, he said, “We did not get a stay order, but Imran Khan has allowed us to contest the by-election. The nomination papers of Omar Ayub’s wife have already been submitted.”
Expressing disappointment over the recent Supreme Court Bar elections, Barrister Gohar said losing by 400 votes was concerning for the party. “We are deeply saddened and are taking this defeat very seriously,” he concluded.
