Junaid accuses Centre of high-handedness

BATKHELA: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial President Junaid Akbar Khan said that the federal government had resorted to the registration of cases against his party workers.

Talking to the media after a party meeting here, he said that under the prevailing circumstances, the PTI was no longer in a position to hold talks with the government. He said that the PTI’s February 8 rally in Swabi would be a historic one.

He stated that the PTI workers would respond to the call of the party founder and attend the rally in large numbers with great enthusiasm.

Criticizing the government’s approach, he noted that former prime minister Imran Khan had called for dialogue, but the PTI workers were facing cases. “Due to this situation, the PTI is not in a position to engage in any negotiations with the federal government,” he remarked.

He said the PTI would launch a protest movement starting from February 8. “If we are guilty of the 9 May events, then why not establish a judicial commission?” he said, adding the federal government knew that if such a commission was formed, PTI workers would be acquitted with honour. Junaid Akbar criticized the government, describing it as powerless, which, he said was imposed on the people. He stated that the PTI had no hopes that this government would conduct a fair investigation into the events of May 9 and November 26.

The PTI leader said that the party activists would block all the major roads including the Karakoram Highway if he is disappeared.