'Fault line' emerges between PTI's legal, political leadership; Asad Qaiser denies differences

• Sources say Gohar Khan was absent in meeting with JUI-F chief.
• Lawyers have been 'restricted' to legal affairs, cases.
• Asad Qaiser claims all counsels united with political leadership.

ISLAMABAD: Differences have emerged between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s lawyers and political leadership as the latter wants to hold talks with other parties for a political settlement, whereas the former desires otherwise, Geo News reported Saturday citing sources.

Decisions regarding the current political situation and formation of governments in the centre and provinces have also been delayed for the same reason, the sources added.

The sources said the party's counsels had expressed reservations over establishing contacts with other political parties including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), which was evident by the absence of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan in the meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The legal team’s leadership including Gohar was not present in the party’s meeting with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Qaumi Watan Party too, they said, adding that hot words were also exchanged during a party huddle in Islamabad.

The lawyers have now been restricted to the party’s legal matters and cases after they refused to comply with the political leadership’s decisions, they maintained. They said PTI founder Imran Khan had rested complete responsibility for political decisions with the political leadership. Whereas, the lawyers had expressed reservations over the political leadership’s decisions and meeting with Imran Khan, the sources said.

On the other hand, PTI leader Asad Qaiser has claimed that all the legal members of the PTI were united with the political leadership. “The lawyers are bound to follow the decisions of the leadership and party. The counsels are moving forward in unity,” he said.