PTI Says Federal Contacts Continue as Gohar Calls for De-escalation

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Monday that contacts with relevant officials at the federal level were continuing as political tensions intensified ahead of the party’s planned September 27 protest. Speaking to reporters in Peshawar, Gohar called for measures to prevent the situation from deteriorating further and urged all sides to reduce tensions.

Gohar said the party had conveyed its concerns over recent developments during the ongoing contacts. He urged the authorities to avoid steps that could further aggravate the political environment, particularly as PTI continues preparations for its announced nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad.

The PTI chairman also expressed concern over recent actions involving party leaders and members of former prime minister Imran Khan’s family. He maintained that additional arrests could increase tensions and argued that efforts should instead focus on preventing further escalation. His remarks came after a series of detentions linked to the political mobilisation planned for later this month.

Imran Khan’s sisters Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan were detained for 30 days under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order law and transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. Their detention followed the earlier detention of their sister Aleema Khan under the same legal framework. A petition challenging Aleema Khan’s detention has also been filed before the Lahore High Court.

PTI has maintained that it intends to proceed with the September 27 mobilisation, which the party says is aimed at pressing its political and constitutional demands, including the release of Imran Khan. Party leaders have repeatedly stated that the protest is intended to remain peaceful, while government officials have warned that authorities will enforce the law and will not allow prolonged disruption in Islamabad.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said earlier on Monday that the federal government was preparing what he described as a permanent strategy for dealing with protests that could shut down the capital for extended periods. Government representatives have also urged PTI to reconsider actions that could disrupt public life, while opposition figures have continued to call for dialogue and political engagement to lower tensions.

The reported continuation of federal-level contacts indicates that communication between political actors has not completely stopped despite the increasingly tense environment. Attention will now remain on whether those contacts develop into formal negotiations before September 27, whether further detentions or administrative measures are taken, and whether the planned protest proceeds under arrangements acceptable to both organisers and authorities.