Gohar says he exchanged greetings with Bajwa after handshake photo circulated widely on social media
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan shakes hands with former army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa during a wedding ceremony. Photo: X
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday defended his brief interaction with former army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying political hostilities should end, and clarified that the two had merely exchanged greetings at a wedding.
A picture of the PTI chairman shaking hands with the former army chief at the function began circulating on social media last week, drawing criticism from PTI supporters and party officials.
They criticised Gohar for interacting with Gen Bajwa, whom they accused of playing a role in the PTI government’s ouster in 2022, with some also calling for the PTI chairman’s resignation.
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Speaking to reporters on Adiala Road in Rawalpindi, Gohar defended his interaction with Gen Bajwa, saying that there had been no discussion beyond exchanging greetings at the wedding ceremony while condemning what he described as propaganda against him over the encounter.
He said political differences should not be allowed to turn into permanent animosity, adding that relationships could change over time.
“Enemies can become friends and friends can become enemies with the passage of time. Hatred should come to an end,” he said.
Defending his interaction with Gen Bajwa, the PTI chairman said there had been no discussion beyond exchanging greetings at the wedding ceremony while condemning what he described as propaganda against him over the encounter.
Meanwhile, Gohar rejected the possibility of PTI boycotting the upcoming local government elections, saying the party would participate like other political parties.
He said candidates had been directed to prepare their nomination papers for the three constituencies in Islamabad.
The PTI chairman said the PTI did not want confrontation with any state institution, adding that heads of all institutions should remain within their constitutional limits.
Gohar welcomed the Islamabad High Court’s order regarding meetings with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, expressing hope that it would be implemented this time.
He said court orders had not been followed for the past two years and that restrictions on meetings with the former prime minister had contributed to political tensions.
The PTI chairman said the information about Imran Khan’s health brought by Barrister Salman Safdar after meeting him was not encouraging. He also called for implementation of the Supreme Court’s Aug 18 order.
Asked about contacts with the government, Gohar said the party remained in touch with the government and the interior minister, but there were currently no negotiations or backchannel discussions underway.
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He said dialogue was necessary to ease political tensions.
Regarding meetings with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Gohar said the discussions had taken place in connection with the proposed All Parties Conference (APC).
He said the two parties could join hands on issues of common concern; however, it was too early to discuss a joint movement.
Commenting on the situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI chairman said governor’s rule or an emergency could not serve as an alternative to a democratic government.
He demanded an end to governor’s rule, saying the fact that people had not taken to the streets in protest should not be interpreted as an indication that public anger had subsided.
