Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Saturday confirmed that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has advised the party to remain within the system instead of opting for a boycott.
Speaking to reporters at the district courts, Mr Gohar said he had appeared before the court in connection with a complaint filed regarding the events of November 26. “The court has fixed March 15 as the next date due to the election,” he stated.
When asked whether the CJP had advised PTI to stay in the system and not boycott, Mr Gohar responded: “You are absolutely right.”
He said he had met the chief justice a day earlier and conveyed PTI’s concerns regarding the judiciary’s conduct. “Our charge sheet against the government is long, and we are not happy with the judiciary’s role either,” he remarked.
The PTI chairman stressed that the party’s treatment was “not right for democracy and the rule of law.”
Meeting with CJP
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued a statement regarding the meeting between the PTI delegation and CJP Afridi.
According to the statement, the PTI delegation—led by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub—raised concerns over the treatment of jailed party founder Imran Khan and the legal troubles faced by PTI leaders and workers. The delegation pointed out that multiple cases had been filed against party leaders in different jurisdictions simultaneously.
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The statement further mentioned that the delegation provided recommendations for reforms in the criminal justice system. Advocate Ali Zafar also sought time to present policy proposals to the Law and Justice Commission.
CJP Afridi, in response, informed the delegation about his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the premier expressed concern over the backlog of tax-related cases. The chief justice also suggested that judicial reforms should be made a “consensus national agenda,” a proposal PTI members acknowledged as necessary.
Political strategy
On the political front, Mr Gohar said PTI’s alliance delegation had traveled to Karachi as part of its efforts to unite the opposition. “We are running a movement to uphold the Constitution and ensure that votes are not stolen,” he said.
He added that political parties had their own manifestos and internal processes, which often took time to develop.
Regarding intra-party matters, he clarified that discussions with Sher Afzal Marwat were an internal affair and that PTI had mechanisms in place to address disciplinary violations. He also mentioned that decisions concerning those who left PTI after the May 9 events would be taken by Imran Khan.
Dismissing reports of rifts within the party, Mr Gohar claimed that PTI’s internal affairs were stable and there was no forward bloc.
Court hearing adjourned
Separately, a District and Sessions Court in Islamabad adjourned the hearing of a criminal complaint against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others over alleged violence against PTI protesters on November 26.
Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the case, with Mr Gohar appearing in court. He informed the judge that PTI’s legal team was unable to attend due to election-related commitments. The court subsequently adjourned the case until March 15.
