SLAMABAD: Information Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sheikh Waqas Akram Monday alleged that fascist tactics were used in Rawalpindi against peaceful protesters.
In a statement here, he regretted that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the workers accompanying him were mistreated, the people of Rawalpindi and journalists were also mistreated. He said that under the Constitution, it is their right to protest and to go from one province to another province, but they are not given permission and hence, the Constitution is being blatantly flouted while people are being picked up from their homes and their leaders and workers from across Punjab were arrested.
Secretary Information PTI has said that May 9 is repeatedly mentioned and that ‘we repeatedly ask that a judicial commission be formed on May 9 so that the matter is resolved as soon as possible. “Let everything become crystal clear, as we are not the enemies of Pakistan,” he remarked.
Sheikh Waqas Akram said that 2000 people were injured by tear gas shells, 500 people were injured by grenades and rubber bullets, whereas four persons were seriously injured while two of them were shifted to Mardan Medical Complex, and as many shifted to Lady Reading Hospital; one worker is in critical condition.
He said that a total of 100 people were picked up and given physical remand, FIRs were registered against 500 to 600 people. “The shameful thing is that an 80-year-old woman was also picked up and a case was filed against her, what was the danger to them from an elderly woman? Can the chief minister of Punjab see this elderly lady,” he wondered?
He decried the government’s use of force against his party leaders and workers instead of allowing them to exercise their right of peaceful protest. Addressing the government, secretary information PTI said that bullets were fired at innocent/unarmed people, ‘but whatever you do, this movement will continue till its logical end’.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has contacted JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman by telephone and greeted him on his unopposed election as the party head and expressed best wishes for him.
Barrister Gohar and Maulana Fazlur Rahman discussed the political situation and parliamentary affairs of the country. He also congratulated Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri for being elected Secretary General JUI.
Separately, the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan has strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on Palestine and Lebanon territories. He expressed his heartfelt regret and sorrow over the martyrdom of the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Shaheed Syed Hasan Nasrallah. “Hassan Nasrullah was the powerful voice and strongest shield of the innocent people of Gaza in front of the enemy. We strongly condemned Israel’s bombing of Lebanon’s civilian population after Gaza,” he said.
“Martyr Hassan Nasrullah sacrificed his life for Palestine. The UN Security Council should intervene to stop Israeli terrorism. Had the United Nations shown awareness and unity on the Israeli atrocities on the victims of Gaza, Tel Aviv would not have dared this shameful attack on Lebanon today,” he contended.
He said Israeli attacks on Lebanon are against freedom and sovereignty, whereas because of this, the Middle East region is at risk of war, the attack is an attempt to push the entire region into a dangerous war. “Israel’s attack on Lebanon is an attempt to fuel unrest in the Middle East,” he feared.