Summary PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar called for fresh elections, a national government, and a movement for Imran Khan's release from August 5.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar said on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had lost the confidence of his allies and should seek a vote of confidence or pave the way for fresh elections and a national government.
Speaking to journalists near Dahgal Naka close to Adiala Jail, Barrister Gohar said the current political system had lost its legitimacy and should be wound up. He argued that the country required a national government followed by elections, claiming the prime minister had failed to secure a vote of confidence after questions were raised by both the interior minister and a key coalition partner regarding the government's mandate.
The PTI chairman said the government's constitutional, legal and democratic standing had effectively collapsed, adding that the opposition would consult its allies regarding the constitutional procedure for a no-confidence move. He also said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had emerged from a disputed electoral process and questioned whether its actions reflected the national interest.
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Commenting on the issue of creating new provinces, Barrister Gohar said it had long been a public demand but maintained that the present parliament lacked the moral authority to decide such a matter. He stressed that any decision on new administrative units required broad national consensus and said the political system needed to be reset.
Referring to PTI founder Imran Khan, Barrister Gohar claimed no political party leader had remained imprisoned for three consecutive years since Pakistan's independence. He announced that PTI would launch a movement on August 5 for Imran Khan's release, saying the campaign would continue until both Imran Khan and his wife were freed.
He also defended PTI's decision to boycott elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was taken after consultation with the public because voters were not in the mood to participate. He alleged that voter turnout was the lowest in the region's history and criticised the three-phase election process as unconstitutional, while describing the AJK government as a failure.
Barrister Gohar rejected reports of contacts with other political parties, including the PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F, and said there had been no negotiations with anyone for a long time. However, he warned that rising political tensions could endanger the federation and urged all stakeholders to engage in dialogue to resolve national issues peacefully.
