Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday dismissed any connection between his party and the recently introduced ‘Pakistan Democracy Act’ in the US House of Representatives, which seeks sanctions on Pakistani officials over alleged human rights abuses.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House, Gohar said, “Countless legislations and resolutions are passed in the US Congress. PTI has no link with this particular bill.” He also clarified that the party has had no contact with the US delegation currently visiting Pakistan.
The bill, introduced last month by two US lawmakers, invokes the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and calls for sanctions against individuals accused of persecuting PTI founder Imran Khan. It proposes visa bans and entry restrictions for Pakistani officials allegedly involved in human rights violations.
Regarding political developments, Gohar said PTI would finalise its future strategy after forming an alliance with other opposition parties. He noted that JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is expected to announce his party’s stance on April 15 following internal consultations.
PTI has accelerated efforts to form a grand opposition alliance following Eidul Fitr.
Last month, it formally launched the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), a coalition that includes the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM).
In a separate move, PTI also reached out to former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to join the anti-government movement. Addressing internal discord within PTI, Gohar said, “It’s a democratic party, and everyone is free to express their opinion,” while encouraging leaders to handle party matters internally.
