KP Assembly demands release of Imran, other PTI leaders

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for the immediate release of former prime minister Imran Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders who were arrested outside the Parliament House on Monday.

The resolution, presented by PTI MPA Sher Ali Afridi, condemned the alleged harassment and arrests of PTI leaders and workers by the federal government. It described the detention of PTI lawmakers within the National Assembly premises as an attack on both parliament and democracy.

The resolution demanded a dignified release of PTI leaders and warned that the prime minister elected through “bogus votes” would be held accountable along with certain state officials involved in the actions against parliament. The resolution demanded the state institutions remain within the constitutional domain. The resolution added that such actions amounted to high treason. The resolution lamented that personal ego and stubborn attitude of certain officials had pushed the country towards instability and economic crisis.

Earlier, Minister Meena Khan Afridi requested Speaker Babar Salim Swati to adjourn the day’s agenda and allow them to speak on the current political situation in the country.

Dr Amjad, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Housing, said the time had come to remove the shadow of fear and speak the truth to expose the ones who had pushed the country towards economic and political instability. He claimed that he was pressured to quit politics or at least part ways with the PTI founding chairman Imran Khan. “We, being the elected representatives, must play our role and not bow down before pressure,” he said and added that the incarcerated PTI chairman had raised his voice for real independence and democracy.

PTI MPAs Aurangzeb Khan from Orakzai and Humayun Khan from Lower Dir also narrated their ordeals and harassment at the hands of personnel of institutions and claimed that they were even offered ministries and green pastures in the caretaker governments.

The parliamentary reporters at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly also boycotted the assembly proceeding against the remarks of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur during the PTI gathering on September 8. The reporters ended their protest after a group of provincial ministers including Meena Khan Afridi, Qasim Ali Shah and Zahir Shah Toru apologised on the behalf of the chief minister.