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January 23, 2026
PTI’s Gohar Urges Govt to Hold ‘Unconditional’ Dialogue
Islamabad: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday urged the government to hold “unconditional” talks with the opposition, saying that there should be no conditions in dialogue between political parties.
Speaking to the media, Gohar said that it was wrong to say that negotiations would only be held on specific topics.
“It is wrong to say that negotiations will be held on this topic but this topic cannot be included in negotiations,” he said.
“If you want to hold dialogue, you should speak on all topics,” he said. At the same time, the PTI chairman said that he did not have the authority to negotiate with the government.
He said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas — who were recently appointed opposition leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate, respectively — had been given the authority to hold talks with the government.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has stated that PTI founder Imran Khan has given Achakzai and Abbas the responsibility of making decisions — be it about talks with the government or protests.
“I will give them my consultation if they require it,” Gohar said.
He further said that if the government wished to “shake the hand” of the opposition, it should do so with both of its hands.
“The stick and carrot policy does not work. [Throwing] a punch with one hand and extending the other one does not work,” he said.
Gohar also said that PTI founder Imran was facing a multitude of cases, adding that the ex-premier’s lawyers should be allowed to meet him.
He said that a PTI delegation had held a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and highlighted the fact that meetings with Imran were not being allowed.
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reiterated his offer for talks with the opposition but also emphasized that dialogue between the two sides could only proceed on “legitimate matters”.
However, PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar had said that no dialogue could be held with the government until it allowed meetings with Imran.
Meanwhile, in his maiden speech as the National Assembly opposition leader on Monday, Achakzai had extended an olive branch to the government and offered “unconditional support” to empower Parliament. - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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