Imran Khan Demands Judicial Commissions, Warns of Halting Talks: Gohar

Imran Khan Demands Judicial Commissions, Warns of Halting Talks: Gohar

On Thursday, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated that party leader Imran Khan had said to end discussions between the government because of an inability to form judiciary commissions.

The PTI and the government were engaged in talks to lower the political tensions. After two rounds of talks, three rounds were scheduled seven weeks prior (January 16), when the PTI officially laid out the demands of its members in writing.

Despite several weeks of talks and discussions, the dialogue process has not moved much ahead on the most critical issues, for instance, the creation of judicial commissions and the release of PTI prisoners.

The government on Monday promised the PTI an answer to the opposition’s “charter of demands in seven days after the PTI warned it would resign from the next session of talks if no judicial commissions are created to investigate the incidents of May 9 and November 26 incidents.

In a press conference in front of Adiala Jail today after meeting Imran, Barrister Gohar said that the government had promised to create the requested judicial review commissions in seven working days but could not fulfil that promise.

“The PTI founder (has) said to call the talks off over the government’s failure to form the judicial commissions,” the source said.

The official added that the PTI hopes to pursue talks, but they are likely cancelled “due to non-cooperation from the government.”

“Negotiations cannot move forward if the commission is not announced today,” the official said.

He also noted that talks could continue even when a commission of three judges is created.

“According to the PTI founder, the party will continue its efforts under the law and constitution,” Gohar declared. “On the instructions of [Imran], we will join various opposition parties and struggle together.”

Yesterday, the government called for the opposition to stay as a participant in the dialogue and promised to address their demands during four talks on January 28.

In response in response to PTI president Omar Ayub’s tweet to his X platform, in which the PTI leader reiterated its demand that there be “no commissions, no negotiations,” Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who is the representative of Negotiation committee in the government has stated: “We (government) have promised the PTI that we will present our response to the dialogue committee within seven working days and thus we will submit our replies on January 28.”

In response to a query about the PTI’s decision not to participate in the next gathering until commissions were established, Senator Emmanuel appeared optimistic about the chances of the opposition party continuing to participate in the dialogue.

“They (PTI) will join the next meeting, and they should because they started the dialogue, as they first formed their negotiation committee,” the senator said of the dialogue to ease tensions between the two parties.

He claimed that the talks were held about PTI’s commission creation demands. He added that the government has yet to decide the commissions. He said that the PTI’s decision to skip any meeting in the coming months of the commission is an “illogical” move.

Commission on May 9 riots

In its demands, the PTI demanded that the initial commission be given the task of conducting an extensive investigation into various aspects that could affect the “legality of the events that led” to Imran’s detention on May 9 2023.

The court also demanded an investigation to determine the “legality of the manner of the arrest and those responsible for the break-in into the premises of the Islamabad High Court by the rangers and the police”.

Regarding the violent nationwide protests on May 9 this year, the resolution requested to inquire into the “events across the country after Imran’s arrest” is also investigated.

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The PTI specifically requested an investigation into the “circumstances in which groups of individuals were able to reach various high-security locations at which property damage is said to have been caused”. The PTI requested an “examination of the CCTV recordings at each location where damage is said to have been caused by protesters”.

In addition, the group said that if CCTV video is “not available, the causes of this lack of availability” should be examined.

PTI demanded that the PTI call to investigate it. The “manner in which those arrested in connection with the events of May 9 were apprehended and then kept in custody, as well as the circumstances of their release”, should be investigated. “Were the rights of these people being violated, for example, by torture? What was the process used to compile lists of the people to be arrested made?” it asked.

“Were multiple FIRs (first information reports) registered against the same individual concerning May 9, 2023, and sequential arrests carried out in abuse of the process of the law?” the group continued to ask.

The group also requested an investigation into “instances of media censorship and restrictions on reporting related to the incident, including harassment of journalists”.

Recurring internet interruptions into the debate and bringing them into the discussion, the PTI called for the “vires and legality of government’s imposition of internet shutdowns and its impact before, during and after the unrest” to be scrutinized, and the responsibility is taken care of.

Since Imran’s arrest on August 5, 2023, based upon various instances, his PTI’s relationship with government officials and the establishment has negatively deteriorated. The PTI has been the subject of several protests during the past year, and many of them became violent when government arrests and repression confronted them.

Commission for November 26 crackdown

In the hope of forming an independent commission to investigate the November “Final Call protest in Islamabad, The PTI demanded a second deep inquiry regarding November 24 through 27.

After the power show, tensions increased with renewed calls to expel the party as well as task teams created in opposition to a supposed “malicious campaign” as the PTI claimed to have caused several deaths among its members, something the government has officially denied.

However, when Imran created the five-member panel to meet about “anyone” and his lawmakers softened their position on the issue, his government formed its panel composed of ruling coalition members.

“Was there any live ammunition as well as other forms of physical assault against the protesters in Islamabad? If yes, who commanded the use of live ammunition, as well as other violent acts against the protesters? In what way was the force used excessively? If yes, who was accountable for the use of force in excess?” the PTI asked.

The request also sought details of the “number of the martyrs and the injured and of the persons who went missing after 24 to November 27 2024”.

The opposition demanded that the “state of the CCTV recordings at the various hospitals and medical facilities in Islamabad” over those four days be reviewed and determined.

“Were the hospital records and other medical facilities altered? If yes, under what instructions and orders did this happen? Did the hospitals be prevented from divulging information regarding the deaths and injured?” the PTI asked.

It also asked in the CCTV film “recorded at the various premises from China Chowk to D Chowk on the Blue Area,” at which the PTI convoys had gathered to celebrate protests in Islamabad protest.

“What difficulties were faced by those seeking to register FIRs and initiate other legal action concerning the events of 24 to November 27?” the group asked.

The group sought to review “instances of media censorship and restrictions on reporting related to the incident, including the harassment of journalists”.

It reiterated its call to determine whether it was legal to implement what as”the “government’s imposition of internet shutdowns” and its effect before, during and following the unrest.

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