Rawalpindi, January 6, 2026: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday refused to recognise Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the party chairman, asserting that “Imran Khan is the party chairman and no one else.” His remarks came during a media briefing at the Gorakhpur checkpoint in Rawalpindi, a day reserved for meetings with the PTI founder at Adiala Jail.
PTI workers began gathering at the checkpoint amid heavy police deployment, with roads leading to Adiala Jail blocked and multiple checkpoints established. Raja criticised the Election Commission’s actions, calling them “rules of coercion” and dismissing claims that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had authority over party affairs.
Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced plans for a nationwide shutdown and wheel-jam strike on February 8, while also questioning the logic of limiting negotiations to a meeting of “five elders.” He alleged that for over a month, PTI leaders had been denied access to the party founder despite court orders, calling the situation stagnant and unfair.
The last meeting with Imran Khan was on December 2, when his sister Dr. Uzma Khanum met him for 37 minutes, reporting that his condition was “fine and recovering.” Gohar maintained that the party had not called off talks, but stressed the need for genuine dialogue rather than symbolic meetings.
PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi plans to take the party’s street campaign to Karachi on January 9, carrying Imran Khan’s message, despite previous obstructions during his Lahore visit. Afridi had objected to the Punjab government’s “excessive security posture,” describing it as intimidation rather than cooperation.
The sit-in at the Factory Naka checkpoint continues, led by PTI founder’s sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi, and Uzma Khan, alongside party leaders including Salman Akram Raja and others. Aleema Khan alleged that Imran Khan is being kept in solitary confinement, calling it a sign of fear from authorities. She urged police personnel to show compassion to workers and criticised the lack of proper governance and media coverage regarding the PTI founder.
During the protest, a water tanker at the site spilled water over the participants, forcing them to relocate. Police later removed the tanker, but the sit-in persists as party supporters demand access to Imran Khan and continuation of party activities under his leadership.
