Following Pakistan’s ceasefire with India, Gohar Ali Khan—the chairman of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)—has called on the government to initiate a political ceasefire within the country as well.
Speaking to Geo News, Gohar emphasized that if Pakistan could reconcile with a foreign adversary like India, then similar efforts should be made domestically to reconcile with PTI. He urged the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to end its crackdown on PTI and release Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since his arrest in May 2023.
“People can only face external threats united,” Gohar said. “If there’s a ceasefire with India, then those who oppose PTI should also reach a ceasefire with us. We’ll celebrate that under the slogan of ‘Pakistan Zindabad,’ but real unity demands the release of Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan’s largest political party.” 
Imran Khan has been in jail for over 20 months, facing more than 100 legal cases. PTI claims these charges are politically motivated and part of a larger effort by the military and rival parties, particularly the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to sideline Khan with alleged support from foreign powers like the United States.
The crackdown on PTI intensified after May 9, 2023, when its supporters launched a massive protest against the military, storming army offices and commanders’ residences in a nationwide uprising.
Despite these tensions, PTI has shown support for Pakistan’s military during the recent conflict with India. However, Gohar pointed out that true national unity can’t exist while Imran Khan and his wife remain in jail, and while PTI leaders and workers are barred from seeing him.
The ceasefire with India followed a significant military confrontation. Under Operation Sindoor, India struck nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). In response to Pakistani missile and drone strikes, India escalated by targeting Pakistan’s airbases in Rawalpindi, Shorkot, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Jacobabad, Sargodha, and Bhulari. Radar installations and air defence systems, including the one in Lahore, were also destroyed.
With critical military and political centers like Lahore and Rawalpindi under fire, Pakistan was reportedly compelled to seek a ceasefire. As per Indian media reports, India maintained escalation dominance throughout the confrontation, leaving Pakistan with little choice but to request peace.
