Backlash: PTI, PAT rise in anger at use of force in Islamabad

In Peshawar, PTI workers protested outside the Governor House, Chief Minister house and Peshawar Press Club, where they chanted slogans against the federal government for shelling tear gas and baton charging the activists.

Addressing the protest outside the Governor House on Sunday, PTI’s MNA Hamidul Haq criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for their “brutality against peaceful demonstrators”, adding holding peaceful protests is their constitutional right. Haq was joined by the party’s youth wing and other members who also addressed the participants. Following the demonstration, over 300 PTI activists left for Islamabad to join the Azadi march.

Bannu

In Bannu, Insaf Youth Wing’s district general secretary Pir Taimur Shah said while speaking to the media that his party was out to struggle for a new Pakistan since August 14, within the ambit of the Constitution. “The use of force against our workers and media is state terrorism,” said Shah. “There is no justification for the PM to run the country anymore.”

Traders in Bannu also protested against the violence and termed it unconstitutional. The protesters marched through different routes and chanted slogans against both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.

Charsadda

Following Imran Khan’s call, PTI workers led by former central vice president Mian Mukaram Shah and PTI lawyer forum’s Rasheed Gul held protests in Charsadda. The workers rallied at Farooq-e-Azam Chowk in Charsadda Bazaar, where Shah said their demonstrations would continue until seen fit by the party chief.

Similarly, a rally was also organised at Bacha Khan Chowk in Shabqadar Bazaar, where PTI’s former K-P president Akbar Khan Matta said they will protest on a daily basis until the PM’s resignation. Matta said Sharif had failed to protect Islamabad and the 2013 general elections were rigged. He added the current Parliament is not truly representative of the nation.

Barikot

The PTI chapter of Barikot denounced the Islamabad unrest. A protest was held at the divisional office, where local party president Sharaf Ali spoke to the workers.

“Our rulers have opened a new chapter of cruelty in the history of Pakistan,” said Ali. “The government wants to create civil war in the country with their thugs disguised in police uniforms.”

A large number of workers from both PTI and PAT also protested across Shergarh, Shangla and the Hazara region, in Haripur, Mansehra and Abbottabad, whilst blocking roads for all kinds of traffic.

Khattak lashes out

K-P CM Pervez Khattak visited Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad to enquire after the health of PTI MPA Fazle Ilahi and other party workers who were injured due to tear gas shelling by police on Saturday night.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Khattak condemned the “killing of peaceful protesters in cold blood”. He threatened the country would not tolerate more of such cruelty and that this would cost the government heavily.

“It is regretful that the Punjab Police did not hesitate to kill and injure women, children and aged people, while also arresting PTI workers from hospitals in Islamabad who were visiting to donate blood to injured protesters,” said Khattak. “The Supreme Court and the Constitution have allowed us to peacefully protest and we will soon rid ourselves of these plunderers who resort to bloodshed.”

Khattak said there is no justification for remaining at home after such atrocities committed by the rulers of the country. The CM asked the nation to judge for themselves how rulers who aim bullets and tear gas at peaceful demonstrators could be their well-wishers.

“It is high time for all political forces to join hands against such brutality, otherwise we will have to keep facing this in the future as well,” said Khattak. “The government has proven that it wants to choke the media by dragging their personnel from their vehicles, ruthlessly beating them and breaking their cameras.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2014.