Islamabad, April 7, 2025: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday firmly denied any association with a bill recently introduced in the United States House of Representatives that calls for sanctions against Pakistani officials over alleged human rights violations.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House, Gohar clarified that PTI has no link to the ‘Pakistan Democracy Act’, a bipartisan bill presented by two US lawmakers last month. The proposed legislation seeks to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, targeting individuals involved in alleged rights abuses, including the purported “persecution” of former prime minister Imran Khan.
“There are countless pieces of legislation and resolutions passed in the US Congress. PTI has no connection whatsoever with this particular bill,” Gohar stated. He also dismissed speculation about any engagement between PTI and a visiting US congressional delegation, saying, “We are not in contact with them.”
The Foreign Office, in a strong response, rejected the bill, calling it the initiative of a single US legislator that does not reflect the broader state of Pak-US relations.
“We are aware of the bill’s introduction. Its timing and context do not align with the current positive trajectory of Pakistan-US bilateral ties, which are based on mutual respect, understanding, and non-interference,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law, human rights, and democratic freedoms, calling democracy “a vehicle for national prosperity and progress.”
Responding to a query about possible contacts between PTI and the military establishment, Gohar offered a vague response, saying he was “as informed as the media” on the matter.
When asked about PTI’s political strategy moving forward, Gohar said the party was actively working to build a broader opposition alliance. He noted that Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), would announce his party’s stance after consultations on April 15. The joint opposition would then determine the terms of reference for a planned anti-government movement.
Following Eid ul Fitr, PTI is expected to ramp up efforts to mobilize support for its movement. The party has been reaching out to various political factions to consolidate a unified front against the ruling coalition, in line with Imran Khan’s directives.
In April 2024, PTI established the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) — a multi-party alliance 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). The party also made overtures last month to former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to join the alliance following the breakdown of earlier talks with the government in January.
Addressing recent reports of internal divisions within PTI, Gohar played down any discord, stating, “We are a democratic party that allows room for differing opinions.” However, he advised party leaders to handle internal matters through internal dialogue rather than public statements.
