MNAs to be held answerable for skipping protest: Salman Raja

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Wednesday raised concerns over the lack of participation by the party’s elected representatives in the August 5 protest, vowing to hold internal discussions on the issue.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, he said, “If the PTI founder gives a protest call, how can any MNA stay away without a valid reason? Those who did not join without justification will have to answer for it.”

He noted that he, along with Mehmood Khan Achakzai (chief of TTAP) and the PTI founder’s sisters, remained at the Chakri Interchange until 11 pm on the day of the protest. He reiterated that the demonstration was planned to be organised at the provincial and local levels, and while participation was limited, the effort was “largely successful”.

“The protest could have been better organised, and it will improve in the future. This was not our final protest — the movement will continue,” he said.

He added that PTI’s provincial and local leadership had been tasked with organising the demonstrations independently. A consultation with the party founder would soon be held to analyse why public turnout fell short of expectations.

When asked about Thursday’s expected meeting with the National Assembly Speaker, Salman Raja said it was premature to comment. “Any final decision will be taken by Imran Khan himself,” he clarified, adding that meaningful dialogue would be difficult “in an environment where even SHOs are openly defying high court orders.”

Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said people showed solidarity with the PTI founder by protesting across the country.

Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House here, he said that the PTI parliamentarians were prevented from speaking in the parliament on Wednesday. “We sought permission to speak at 11:30 am,and got the opportunity after two-and-a-half hours,” he noted.

Gohar said that none of the 170 districts of Pakistan remained free from protests. Referring to the party founder’s imprisonment, he claimed that jailing him was not legal, it was a forced imprisonment and the nation knew that.

The party chairman insisted that disqualifying PTI parliamentarians was against democracy; Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul were all disqualified and if their voices were suppressed even from parliament, then where will they go?

Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan shared details of the family’s first meeting with him in three weeks. She was accompanied by Dr Uzma Khan and Naureen Niazi.

She disclosed that the PTI patron-in-chief had announced August 14 as the date for the party’s next protest, aimed at achieving what he called the “real independence” of the people — something he claimed remains unfulfilled despite the country’s formal independence.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala jail on Wednesday, she quoted Imran Khan urging his party leadership not to fear jails or arrests and directed that no PTI member should contest by-elections on seats vacated by disqualified lawmakers, declaring the disqualifications unlawful.

She also conveyed a message from Imran to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, urging it to immediately halt ongoing operations in the province. Imran suggested that disputes should be resolved through jirgas (tribal councils), warning CM Ali Amin Gandapur to reconsider his position if he cannot stop actions that are “creating hatred against PTI.”

Imran also inquired about his two sons visiting Pakistan, and was informed that visa applications had been submitted, but the Pakistani High Commission had yet to issue them.

Separately, PTI legislators, carrying small placards with slogans in support of their jailed leader and some images of disqualified lawmakers, attempted to stage a protest walk from the Parliament House to the Supreme Court against their disqualification. However, the police stopped them at the main gate of the Parliament House. PTI members included Barrister Gohar, Aamir Dogar, Ali Muhammad, Sanaullah Mastikhel and other leaders.