ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Saturday alleged federal and Punjab governments of harassing transporters as well as its workers and creating hurdles in their way to prevent them from participating in the May 11 protest rally in Islamabad.The opposition party severely condemned both the PML-N led governments on the issue, which it took so seriously that it held two emergency press conferences on Saturday – one by PTI chief Imran Khan and other by its vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence, Imran Khan said the federal and Punjab governments were creating hurdles in smooth holding of their May 11 protest rally and they would be responsible for any untoward incident happened as a result of their ‘shameful’ acts. “The workers of PTI will reach Islamabad with full zeal and fervour after crossing all hurdles from across the country and protest against the rigging in 2013 general elections.”
Khan said that Punjab government was pressing the transporters for not lending their busses for the protest rally and harassing its workers. He said the protest was being held to strengthen the democracy and for transparent elections in the country, and the government’s interference depicted its dictatorial style of governance. He said such steps were strongly condemnable and extremely regrettable.
He said that earlier the workers of PTI despite weather hardships and all other hurdles had travelled to Waziristan against US drone attacks and made public opinion to bring the matter to UN. “And this time the workers would come to Islamabad to start a movement to bring reforms in electoral system with full zeal and patience,” he said.
PTI chief termed Punjab government’s intimidating PTI workers and transporters shameful and said all responsibility would fall on the Punjab government in this connection. He also condemned the federal government alleging that it was stopping the journalists from covering the rally in the name of registration. He also said the central government was creating hurdles in the smooth arrangements of the rally. But, he said the efforts to suppress the voices being raised against election rigging would not be successful.
Earlier in the day, PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressing an emergency press conference along with party’s Secretary General Jehangir Tareen and Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari said Punjab government was pressurising transporters in all districts of the province through districts coordination officer (DCOs) and RTOs to ensure they do not to lend their vehicles to the PTI workers. He said that police posts had been established at all the entry and exit points of all Punjab districts through district police officers (DPO) under the direction of Punjab government to stop their workers from attending the rally. He said Imran Khan would present the party’ charter of demand in the rally.
The party leaders said that it was condemnable that important avenues of the capital had been dug up before the rally. The leadership said that the undemocratic acts of the federal and Punjab governments cannot stop them from reaching their destiny. To a question, Qureshi said that Geo media group while remaining partial had started a campaign against the PTI chief. He said it was condemnable and this was the reason to boycott the media group.
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