Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), disclosed on Saturday that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had acknowledged Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his strong stance in defending judicial independence, even during difficult circumstances.

During a press conference held at K-P House in Islamabad, Gohar called for the protection of Imran Khan’s rights. He shared details of his 45-minute meeting with Khan, emphasizing the tough conditions under which the PTI leader is currently detained.

“Khan has been without electricity in his cell for the past five days. Keeping him in solitary confinement and in such a small space is a breach of his human and constitutional rights,” Gohar stated. He also mentioned that Khan has not had access to TV or newspapers for two weeks, leaving him in the dark regarding recent developments, particularly around constitutional matters. “We informed him of the updates,” Gohar added.

Speaking about Khan’s personal concerns, Gohar said, “He was deeply saddened by the arrest of his sisters but reassured us that both he and his family are always prepared for such sacrifices.” Gohar also conveyed Khan’s request for the public to maintain peace.

The meeting, held at Adiala Jail, involved five PTI members who informed Khan about progress on constitutional amendments. Gohar noted that Khan responded positively to the discussions and particularly praised Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his commitment to defending the judiciary’s independence.

The PTI delegation, led by Gohar, was cleared for the meeting after some delay caused by the prison authorities’ initial refusal. Eventually, entry was granted following Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s intervention.

Separately, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram criticized the jail administration for barring lawyer Salman Akram Raja from meeting Khan, although Gohar, Ali Zafar, and Asad Qaiser were allowed entry.

In another development, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced that PPP and JUI-F had reached a complete consensus on proposed constitutional reforms after a meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

“Both parties are aligned on judicial reforms,” Bilawal said, stressing that the draft amendments were the joint effort of Maulana and PPP. He expressed hope that Maulana would personally present the draft in parliament.

Bilawal further urged PTI to accept Maulana’s draft if they disagreed with the PPP version, stating, “We’ve done all we can. Now it’s up to PTI.”