PTI optimistic about getting reserved seats through SC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Tuesday reiterated that the decision to go for the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) was correct, conceding at times difference of opinion emerges.

“We stand by our decision to join the SIC. It was a correct decision in view of the given time and we have no differences with the council,” he remarked while talking to a group of reporters here.

He sounded optimistic that they would get the reserved seats through the Supreme Court of Pakistan, claiming, “Reserved seats are ours, will be allotted to us. None can take them away.”

Gohar pointed out that it was also a split decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as one member had maintained that reserved seats to other parties could be given only after the required legislation is done.

When asked if it was a fair decision to give Senate ticket to Zulfi Bokhari instead of Omar Sarfraz Cheema, who was still facing a tough time, the PTI chairman explained that since Cheema had been the Punjab governor, therefore, he could not contest election for any slot.

To another question if the statements given by Sher Afzal Marwat reflected the party policy, he replied in the affirmative saying that Marwat was party’s MNA.

He also made it clear that the party workers had been given tickets for the Senate elections after consultation, and the decision was made by the founder chairman of the party.

About the plea for suspension of the cipher case verdict, he said they were hopeful the court would give relief, as it was not a ‘remand back’ case but a matter of 100 percent relief. He contended that the case was against the law and that there was no evidence available.

He requested the court to decide the appeal in the same speed, as was the case conducted.

Separately, Sher Afzal Marwat said no one was stopped from giving statements and that his statement was presented in a wrong way by a private television channel. He explained it was decided in the PTI Core Committee that a powerful movement of agitation would be launched and the first public meeting would be held in the federal capital on March 30.

Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson condemned the issuance of arrest warrants for various party leaders, particularly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and called it the desecration of the mandate of KP people under the guise of fake, false, baseless and fabricated cases and a serious attack on the unity of the Federation.

“Those who loot the people’s mandate as booty and distribute it among criminals are not desisting from their mischief. The issuance of arrest warrants of the elected Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in false and absurd cases is a blatant insult to the people of the province and a very provocative act,” he noted.

The Federation, he stressed, needs national unity and solidarity through stability and respect, whereas such shameful actions are likely to cause an irreparable damage to national unity. “Secret and declared decision-makers should demonstrate sanity and stop offering fake litigation and revenge tactics to the Federation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the party spokesperson expressed grave concerns over an alarming upsurge in the criminal activities of dacoits of Katcha area and added that they intensified their gruesome acts and heinous crimes since the thugs of ‘Pakka’ (settled areas) seized the powers fraudulently through polls robbery. The spokesperson reacted to the dangerous escalation in criminal and unlawful activities of robbers of Katcha areas and stressed that ensuring safety of life and property of the citizens without discrimination was a constitutional obligation of the state.