Barrister Gohar denies contacting Maulana Fazlur Rehman

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has denied reports that he contacted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman amid ongoing political tensions and the party’s long march towards Islamabad.

Speaking to reporters, Gohar said he had neither contacted Fazlur Rehman nor spoken to him by telephone. He rejected reports suggesting that communication had taken place between the two leaders.

The PTI chairman said the party was making efforts to prevent the democratic system from being derailed. He maintained that PTI had prepared itself to respond to any move it considered harmful to democratic institutions or the political process.

Gohar also addressed criticism surrounding the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s approach to counterterrorism. He said PTI had never claimed before the start of the long march that the provincial government was unwilling to take action against terrorism.

He stressed that terrorist attacks should be dealt with through appropriate action and said an effective and clearly defined counterterrorism policy was necessary. According to Gohar, any operation against militants should have a clear policy framework so that the public understands the government’s strategy and supports efforts to combat terrorism.

His remarks came as PTI’s long march continued amid heightened political tensions between the federal government and the opposition party. The march, led by K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, is moving towards Islamabad while political parties continue to debate the possibility of negotiations and measures being considered by the government.

Gohar’s denial also comes amid speculation about efforts to broaden opposition-level political engagement. Fazlur Rehman has previously remained an important figure in opposition politics, making any reported contact between PTI and the JUI-F leadership a subject of considerable political interest.