ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday accused the federal government of exploiting the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to target the opposition, condemning the recent imposition of governor’s rule and emergency measures as a pretext for political victimisation.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Gohar said terrorism must be eliminated but insisted that security concerns could not justify action against political opponents.
He also claimed that the whereabouts of provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and others remained unknown.
“We reject governor’s rule and the imposition of an emergency,” he said, stressing that there could be no disagreement over the need to end terrorism.
Gohar condemned the 30-day extension of Aleema Khan’s detention, describing the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan as a non-political figure and questioning the justification for prolonging her custody.
He alleged that the crackdown on PTI was intensifying, claiming that 12 members of the national and provincial assemblies remained in custody, while supporters had been arrested, homes raided and party flags removed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Asked about Afridi, Gohar said Imran Khan had entrusted him with responsibility and was satisfied with his performance.
“In my view, he has performed excellently,” he added.
In a separate statement, PTI accused the federal government of “double standards” on security and negotiations with Afghanistan, arguing that its opposition to provincial-level talks had exposed what the party described as the political motives behind the removal of the elected provincial government.
The party was responding to a proposal by Khan Marjan, deputy chairman of Pakistan’s Regional Representation and Development Council, seeking permission to travel to Afghanistan for talks.
PTI questioned why Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and other federal ministers had opposed negotiations led by the PTI-led provincial government, describing them as an attack on the federation, but had remained silent when a similar proposal came from their own representative shortly after the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency measures in KP.
The party said the proposal had received approval from the Apex Committee. It added that Marjan had acknowledged that previous negotiations with the Taliban had been followed by approximately 90 days without reported violence or explosions in Pakistan, arguing that this strengthened the case for dialogue alongside security measures.
“The federal government removed the elected government in KP under the pretext of terrorism and insecurity, yet opposed its proposal to pursue a negotiated settlement with Afghanistan,” the statement said.
PTI further alleged that the administration had prioritised political victimisation over public safety, citing arrests, raids, harassment of citizens and action against businesses.
It accused those in power of focusing on rallies and pressuring political representatives to switch loyalties instead of presenting a credible security strategy.
The party called for meaningful negotiations with Afghanistan, comprehensive political engagement and consultation with Imran Khan.
It also questioned the billions of dollars spent by successive governments on prolonged conflict without achieving lasting peace.
PTI demanded the immediate release of Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, Afridi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem, provincial president Junaid Akbar and other lawmakers and political detainees held under the Maintenance of Public Order laws.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026