Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Monday that the party’s planned long march to Islamabad on September 27 would remain peaceful and be conducted within the Constitution and the law.
Speaking at a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, Gohar said PTI had no intention of taking law and order into its own hands during the march, which the party has called to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan.
Gohar said PTI was not marching on the capital to conquer it or turn it into “Somnath”, adding that “when we go to Islamabad, the supremacy of the Constitution and the law will prevail”. He said the party wanted the occasion to have an atmosphere of festivity.
Emphasising that maintaining peace would remain a priority, Gohar said: “Are we terrorists? We are being told that we will be dealt with like terrorists. We are political figures, and we will not arrive like terrorists.”
The PTI chairman also questioned the detention of women from Imran Khan’s family and argued that the party was being penalised despite pursuing peaceful means. Recent reports confirm the detention of Imran Khan’s sisters ahead of the planned march.
“PTI is being punished for being peaceful,” Gohar said.
He maintained that the party had repeatedly sought legal remedies, saying PTI had approached the high court 25 times and the Supreme Court 19 times. He also said the party had raised its concerns in both houses of Parliament.
“What are we asking for? We are only asking for justice. Provide medical treatment to Imran and give him justice in his cases,” Gohar said.
The PTI chairman argued that political tensions could only ease through dialogue rather than threats from either side.
“The state will have to change its approach and think of the country,” he said.
PTI has maintained that the September 27 march will go ahead and remain peaceful, while the federal government has warned against attempts to enter Islamabad in violation of restrictions.