Treasury MPAs in KP Assembly vent anger at PTI leaders’ arrests

PESHAWAR: Members of treasury benches in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday expressed their anger at the arrests of the Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers.

They also criticized the establishment for what they called its undue interference in the country’s political affairs.The assembly session began about three and a half hours late from its scheduled time with Speaker Babar Salim Swati in the chair.

The members, mostly from the treasury benches, criticized the government for arresting the PTI leaders and MNAs, including Barrister Gohar and Sher Afzal Marwat, on the premises of the Parliament on September 9.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Malik Liaqat Ali said the security forces should safeguard and defend the country’s frontiers. He said politicians must be given constitutional power to run the country.

“Unfortunately, the civilian governments were not given the chance to rule the country in the real sense,” he said and added that the present government had come into power under Form-47 formula.

He said that certain elements had pressured him and his family to quit the PTI but they did not bow to their pressure.Former provincial minister and PTI MPA Shakeel Ahmad Khan said he would talk about his removal from the cabinet next time, adding the military and civil establishment played a negative role in the country since its inception.

“The fiery and emotional speeches cannot end the role of establishment. The politicians and political parties should join hands to end their role in politics,” he added. The ruling party MPA Shafiullah Khan, elected from Lower Dir, said that the country was confronted with unrest and chaos as the real prime minister and popular leader had been in jail while the country was run by a person who had stolen public mandate.

“Neither we nor our leader are against the Pak Army but through a preplanned conspiracy a rift was created between PTI and Army,” he said.He added that a judicial inquiry must be conducted into the May 9 violent protests. He said the police force had been protesting for the last three days in Lakki Marwat, demanding protection to their lives and special power to combat militancy in their areas.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Industries Abdul Karim Khan said the arrest of elected representatives from the National Assembly’s premises had exposed the real face of the federal government.He asked the speaker of the National Assembly to uphold the sanctity and supremacy of the Parliament.

PTI MPA from Bajaur Anwar Zeb said the security forces had failed to establish security in his constituency in Bajaur where he said polio workers were being targeted by unidentified armed men in broad daylight.The session was adjourned till 2pm until Thursday.