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PTI Ties JCP Participation to Consultation with Imran Khan, Says Barrister Gohar
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar says party’s participation in Judicial Commission meetings depends on being allowed to consult jailed founder Imran Khan. PTI continues boycott of JCP sessions.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-19
PTI Ties JCP Participation to Consultation with Imran Khan, Says Barrister Gohar

Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday said that the party’s future participation in meetings of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) would depend on whether it is allowed to consult incarcerated party founder Imran Khan.

Speaking to the media at the Supreme Court, Barrister Gohar said the party would take a final decision regarding attendance of future JCP meetings only after consultation with Imran Khan.

“The party will decide whether or not to attend future meetings of the Judicial Commission after having consultation with the PTI founder,” he said.

Neither Barrister Gohar nor Barrister Syed Ali Zafar — PTI’s representatives in the JCP — have attended recent sessions of the commission. During separate meetings held last week, the JCP recommended the confirmation of 31 additional judges as permanent judges of the superior judiciary.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan is the constitutional body responsible for appointments to the superior judiciary.

Explaining the party’s absence from recent meetings, Barrister Gohar said that the status and structure of the JCP had changed following the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment and the establishment of new judicial forums, including the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).

He added that PTI had serious reservations regarding the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which was enacted into law in 2024.

“Despite our concerns, PTI wanted to present its point of view and provide input in the selection of judges for the superior judiciary,” he said. “However, our meetings with the PTI founder were severed, making it impossible for us to consult him.”

Barrister Gohar said that due to the lack of access to Imran Khan, the party decided to stay away from JCP proceedings, similar to its boycott of other parliamentary committees.

“Just as we boycotted participation from other committees, we also decided to stay away from the meetings of the JCP,” he said, adding that a final decision would be taken after meeting Imran Khan.

Meetings with the PTI founder have been suspended until February 8, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had said in December last year.

Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023.

Responding to reports regarding the appointment of Mehmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Barrister Gohar dismissed claims that the move was made at the behest of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Achakzai, chief of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), was appointed opposition leader on January 16.

Gohar said the notification was issued at the discretion of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. “It was done by the speaker of the National Assembly, and we are grateful for it,” he added.

On the appointment of the opposition leader in the Senate, Barrister Gohar said PTI had been informed that the notification would be issued within the next few days.

He said nomination papers had already been submitted to the Senate Secretariat and expressed hope that the process would be completed soon.

“Since the PTI founder has already nominated leaders of the opposition in both Houses, it would be better if the appointments are made without delay,” he said.

In October 2025, PTI nominated Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas for the positions of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate, respectively.
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