Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Jehangir Tareen on Saturday blasted the government for the arrest of his party workers, and declared there will be no further government-PTI talks unless workers are released. Speaking at a press conference along with senior leader Dr Arif Alvi, Tareen termed the crackdown on peaceful sit-in participants the worst example of state terrorism.
According to him, the party will knock all the doors of justice. Tareen warned inspector general police Islamabad Tahir Alam to avoid any further crackdown on peaceful protesters. "Listen IGP Islamabad that three IGs have already said 'no' to illegal government orders of crackdown on peaceful protesters, which is their democratic right and I would like to warn you to refrain from harassing PTI workers," he warned.
At the same time, he reminded IGP Islamabad that the PML-N government is not going to stay forever, adding that any sort of victimisation on the orders of the government will be nothing but a charge-sheet against IGP Islamabad. He also urged the Supreme Court to take a suo motu notice of "government barbarism" on peaceful protesters who include children. The time has come, he added, the judiciary must not act as a silent spectator over what the government is doing with innocent people.
Tareen said PTI's movement has spread throughout the country now and people have realised that the rulers are trying to hide themselves behind a wall of so-called democracy to save their corruption. He said no matter how much force is used, PTI will not relent unless the prime minister steps down. "The government is doing all this to cover up rigging but I would like to make it clear to them that no power of the world can save them as they've stolen the mandate of people," he added.
Shafqat Mehmood, another PTI leader who was also present in the press conference, said that if the government did not stop use of force against peaceful protesters, there will be retaliation for which the government will be held responsible. Arif Alvi said that PTI leader Azam Khan Swati has been arrested by the police, and the party will hold demonstration outside the police station where he ahs been kept. He demanded that Swati must be released or else the government will have to face serious repercussions.
He claimed that thousands of party workers were arrested. "In such an environment, no dialogue can be held." He said that their sit-in would continue till the resignation of the prime minister. Meanwhile, a police official said that Margalla Police Station has registered First Information Report (FIR) against PTI provincial president Azam Swati, Andleeb Abbas, Fauzia Kasuri, Faraz Shibli, Roedad Khan, Nafeesa Khattak and Syed Raza for interfering in government affairs.
Ironically, Fauzia Kasuri's name was also included among those party leaders against whom FIR has been registered though she is presently abroad. He said that the case has been registered under section 188, 427, 353, 148 and 224. Those arrested under the said FIR will be presented before the Deputy Magistrate today (Sunday). Police source said that so far police arrested around 1,000 PTI workers and shifted them to different police stations.
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