Saif earns PTI MPs wrath for statement against PTM

PESHAWAR: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers have come down hard on Adviser to Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, for his recent statement about the banned Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM).

Saif, who is also the spokesman for the KP government, had in a statement said that the PTM being a proscribed organization could not be allowed to arrange public meetings or take out processions.

“The federal government under the Anti-Terrorism Act outlawed the PTM. According to the notification, the PTM is involved in activities against the state and the constitution. Thus, a banned organization can not be permitted to hold political gatherings, rallies, or processions,” he had said in the statement.

But his statement drew sharp criticism from his party legislators and leaders.

A PTI MNA Shahid Khattak said whatever Barrister Saif had stated was neither the PTI policy nor that of the KP government. “This may be his personal opinion,” said the party’s federal legislator.

Another party MNA from Peshawar, Shandana Gulzar, too, differed from the point of view of the KP government’s spokesman and distanced from his statement.

MNA Juned Akbar was critical of Saif as well. “Barrister Saif should have expressed sympathy to the innocent people [PTM activists] and voiced solidarity with them. He should not rub salt into the wounds of the PTM members,” said the PTI lawmaker, adding he condemned the use of force against the PTM.

The PTI Peshawar district president, Irfan Saleem, decried the statement of Barrister Saif. “I consider what the PTI Political Committee says as the real policy [of PTI on PTM],” said Irfan Saleem who even used his X (formerly Twitter) account to bash Barrister Saif.

Expressing disdain for Barrister Saif’s statement, the PTI leaders, former finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, erstwhile Nazim of Peshawar district, Asim Khan, and Irfan Saleem, visited the PTM members and offered fateha for those three workers who lost lives in the firing incident in Khyber district.