Sept 27 protest is final, no question of postponement: Barrister Gohar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar has said that the September 27 protest will go ahead as scheduled, adding that no talks have taken place with the government to postpone it.

Speaking to the media at Parliament House, Barrister Gohar said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi would lead the September 27 protest.

He said PTI founder Imran Khan had always supported negotiations and had authorised Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas to hold talks on his behalf.

Barrister Gohar said the offer for negotiations was considered a sign of weakness, adding that no formal talks with the government are currently taking place.

The PTI chairman also confirmed that backchannel contacts with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi were continuing. He said contact with the government had never been hidden, but details of the backchannel communication could not be shared with the media.

According to Barrister Gohar, the September 27 protest was not solely a PTI decision and was planned after consultations with other political parties. He claimed that all political parties would participate in the protest.

Commenting on the letter received from the prime minister, Barrister Gohar said receiving the letter was a positive development, while the opposition leader was coordinating on the matter.

He also expressed concern over the lack of access to Imran Khan, saying that despite court orders, PTI leaders had been unable to meet the party founder for 10 months.

Barrister Gohar reiterated that the September 27 protest would be held according to schedule and there was no question of postponing it.