PTI to launch anti-govt drive after Ramazan
RAWALPINDI:
Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Faisal Chaudhry has stated that former premier and party's founding chairman Imran Khan has directed his party to launch a full-scale movement against the government after the holy month of Ramazan.
Chaudhry said PTI leaders Asad Qaiser and Omar Ayub have been assigned tasks for the purpose. He said Imran has called for establishing contacts with Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Mahrang Baloch, as well as for taking opposition parties into confidence.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Faisal Chaudhry said the PTI founder has instructed his party to launch a full-scale movement against the government after Ramazan.
Last December, Imran had threatened to start a nationwide civil disobedience movement following a government crackdown on his supporters that resulted in several deaths.
The former premier demanded that a judicial investigation be conducted into the deaths of at least 12 of his supporters during a November 26 government crackdown on what he termed "peaceful" PTI protesters in Islamabad.
Additionally, he called for a probe into the "police onslaughts" against his party workers during nationwide protests in May 2023, which resulted in several fatalities, and sought the release of hundreds of his party workers detained during the antigovernment protests.
Later, the government established a negotiation committee to engage with PTI and consider Imran's demands. Despite holding several meetings, both negotiation panels failed to reach an agreement.
Reflecting on the negotiations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that the government had accepted PTI's proposal, formed a committee and initiated talks through the National Assembly speaker. The committee had asked PTI to present its demands in writing and the government agreed to provide a written response. However, the premier said, PTI pulled out of the scheduled meeting on January 28.
Meanwhile, PTI negotiation committee's spokesperson Sahibzada Hamid Raza posted a statement on X, stating that the opposition's committee was formally dissolved in line with the directions of the party founder.
Raza added that the committee was converted in a coordination committee, which would strive to make a grand opposition alliance against the ruling alliance.
Speaking to media, Faisal Chaudhry emphasized that the "open letters" presented by Imran to the army chief highlighted facts that the establishment must consider. He further revealed that Sanaullah Masti Khel has been inducted into the political committee.
Commenting on ongoing legal proceedings, he noted that another hearing of the GHQ case, part of what he called a series of false cases, took place.
He claimed that individuals who left PTI have not faced any May 9-related charges. He also criticized the "controlled trials" being conducted inside Adiala Jail, where "selective access" is granted to lawyers and journalists.
Reiterating his stance, the PTI founder emphasized the need to address the rising terrorism in the country and condemned the "suppression of judiciary", Chaudhry said.
He maintained that independent media and judiciary are "being reversed", while internet shutdowns are discouraging foreign investment.
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