Hashmi, Qureshi barred from meeting Dasti

Seraiki nationalists stage demonstrations against arrest

MULTAN: The Central Jail authorities on Saturday barred senior politician Javed Hashmi and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi from meeting detained MNA Jamshed Dasti on the pretext of not having legal orders for meeting. 

The jail officials also exchanged hot words with Shah Mehmood Qureshi when he tried to enter the jail. Later, talking to newsmen outside the jail, Shah Mehmood Qureshi protested against the attitude of the jail authorities. He said that he would move a privilege motion in the National Assembly. He demanded immediate release of Jamshed Dasti.

He said that he had talked to PTI chairman Imran Khan and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah against the arrest of Jamshed Dasti.

He said that Jamshed Dasti was being victimised for his bold statements against the government. Qureshi alleged that the government was trying to influence the JIT members. 

Meanwhile, Javed Hashmi also reached the Central Jail to meet the MNA but the jail officials refused, saying that the Punjab government had imposed ban on his meeting with outsiders. 

Jamshed Dasti’s counsel Muhammad Amir Bhutta, in a press conference, claimed that the Central Jail authorities did not allow him to meet his client, which was against the basic rights. He said that his client was being politically victimised for raising voice for the downtrodden class. He said that Jamshed Dasti had filed a petition in the LHC Multan Bench against the government for suspending his development funds. 

Meanwhile, People’s Seraiki Party and Seraikistan Qaumi Council staged demonstrations against the detention of Jamshed Dasti. They were chanting slogans against the provincial government. 

Seraiki nationalists under the leadership of Seraikistan Qaumi Council staged a demonstration in front of the press club. Speaking on the occasion, SQC president Zahoor Dhareja condemned the arrest of Dasti.