Times Report
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Science & Technology and Information Technology Shafi Jan has strongly condemned the picking up of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Fazal Khan from Rashakai Interchange, terming it a grave violation of the Constitution, law and the public mandate of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that using such illegal tactics and coercive measures against elected representatives cannot break the resolve of Imran Khan’s supporters,” he said.
Shafi Jan said that preparations for the September 27 long march have been completed. He made it clear that the protest would be completely peaceful and conducted within the framework of the Constitution and the law.
The Provincial Information Minister said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had approached every constitutional and legal forum for the transfer of Imran Khan to hospital and for the restoration of his basic rights and facilities in jail in accordance with the jail manual. He said that despite court orders, Imran Khan had not been transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital, while meetings with his sisters had also been stopped.
Shafi Jan said that with the September 27 long march approaching, the use of what he described as illegal tactics against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had intensified. He said that elected lawmakers, Imran Khan’s sisters, party leadership and workers were being subjected to arrests, coercion and other unlawful actions.
He said that in Punjab, Imran Khan’s sisters had been arrested, their homes were vandalized, and the sanctity of the privacy and homes of party workers was violated. “The Punjab government will have to answer for such tactics,” he said.
The Provincial Information Minister said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would continue its struggle for its constitutional, democratic and legal rights. He added that such tactics could neither intimidate nor weaken the resolve of PTI workers.
He said that during the PTI government, all political parties were allowed to exercise their constitutional and democratic right to hold protests, public gatherings and long marches. “Today, however, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is being deprived even of its basic constitutional right to peaceful protest,” he said.
Shafi Jan clarified that “we are not taking to the streets to storm Islamabad; we are raising our voice for our constitutional and legal rights.”
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf did not believe in the politics of violence and that Imran Khan had always instructed party workers to remain peaceful.
The Provincial Information Minister said that the September 27 long march would go ahead and that a large number of people would participate in the peaceful protest to raise their voice for their constitutional and democratic rights.
He reiterated that coercion, arrests and other such tactics could not suppress the people’s voice or weaken their resolve to continue their constitutional and democratic struggle
Leave a Reply