Holding workers’ convention: PTI ex-minister’s hujra sealed in Bajaur

KHAR: The district administration in Bajaur on Friday sealed the hujra of a former provincial minister of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for holding the workers’ convention without getting the no-objection certificate (NOC).

Anwar Zeb Khan, who was a minister in the previous PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that he was making arrangements to hold a convention of party workers at his hujra on December 9 (today).

He said that PTI leaders, including Sher Afzal Marwat and others, were scheduled to attend the gathering. He said that the district administration officials sealed his hujra to prevent him from holding the planned event, adding that it was their constitutional right and they would go ahead with it. The former minister said that he was being punished for holding the convention.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Bajaur, Anwarul Haq defended the action, saying that the hujra of the PTI leader had not been sealed. He said the venue for the convention was sealed as the administration had not issued the NOC.

The deputy commissioner said the environment was not conducive for holding the gathering. He said that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed in the district to avert any untoward incident.

Our correspondent adds from Jamrud: An FIR has been registered against the local leaders of PTI in Jamrud Police Station in Khyber district for staging rallies. The PTI workers had takeout rallies in Jamrud to express solidarity with party chief Imran Khan.