The workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday expressed jubilation over the Supreme Court decision to form a commission to probe allegations surfaced in Panama leaks, but some of them were not happy of Imran Khan's announcement to call off planned Islamabad lockdown. Shortly after the news of the Supreme Court's decision reached Bani Gala, residence of Imran Khan, thousands of workers present there started dancing and chanting vociferous slogans against the government.
They said the Supreme Court's decision was a clear victory of the PTI as it has helped bring Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under the law. "Our stance on the Panama leaks stands vindicated as the Supreme Court judges also said that all relevant institutions have failed to initiate investigation into the issue," said Muhammad Kamran, who came from Faisalabad to participate in the proposed dharna of the PTI.
Kamran said that they were happy to be part of the movement against corruption and would return to their home after participating in the public gathering today (Wednesday) in the parade ground. Another activist Shabbir Shah said that he reached Bani Gala three days ago on the call of Imran Khan to participate in the dharna, but the situation changed after the Supreme Court's intervention.
"We have achieved our target," he said, "this is politics not a war of two countries, we are all Pakistanis. We fully agree with our leadership on cancellation of the dharna following the Supreme Court's decision." All workers present inside and outside the Bani Gala were, however, not happy with the Imran Khan's decision of calling off the dharna. They said that the party leadership should have gone ahead with its plans of the lockdown and force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign from his position.
Nabila Shaheen, a PTI worker, said that hundreds of female workers had reached Islamabad and Rawalpindi to take part in the lockdown, but it was unfortunate that Imran Khan has turned into a mere jalsa. She suggested her leadership to think twice before making any decision of protest or dharna next time. "After creating hype for the lockdown for months, it's incomprehensible to retreat from it suddenly," she said.
Shaheen said the Supreme Court has yet to accept terms of reference (ToRs) for the commission and finalise all other relevant details, therefore the PTI should have gone ahead with its plans of the lockdown. Following announcement of Imran Khan to call off the lockdown of the federal capital, Islamabad district administration sprung to action and removed all blockades and shipping containers placed on all routes leading to the city.
Majority of the PTI workers who came from Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal and other nearby cities also returned to their homes, but vowed to come back today (Wednesday) to take part in the jalsa to be held at Parada Ground in Islamabad. Earlier, clashes were witnessed between PTI workers and police where the law enforcement agencies used tear gas shells, manhandled and baton charged the workers who were trying to reach Bani Gala on the call given by party chairman. The police also manhandled PTI's Punjab secretary-information Andleeb Abbas and arrested her along with party workers when they tried to cross the barricades on their way to Bani Gala.
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