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\u2022 Asad Qaiser says demonstration plan not postponed or cancelled
\u2022 Insists nation was \u2018deprived of democracy\u2019 on Feb 8
\u2022 PTI Islamabad chief alleges crackdown on workers weakened capital\u2019s security
\u2022 PTI KP chapter says party lawmakers to hold rallies in their respective districts
\u2022 Party leaders in Punjab slam police raids, arrests<\/p>\n
ISLAMABAD\/ LAHORE\/ PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is set to stage nationwide protests on Sunday (today) to mark the second anniversary of the \u201cstolen\u201d Feb 8, 2024, general election, while also observing a mourning day following Friday\u2019s suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad\u2019s Tarlai area.<\/p>\n
PTI leader Asad Qaiser told Dawn the party had neither postponed nor cancelled its protest programme. \u201cThe day will be observed as a National Day of Mourning and, at the same time, protests will be held across the country against rigging in the general election,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Qaiser said Feb 8 was not only about PTI founder Imran Khan and the party leadership. \u201cIt is a day on which the nation was deprived of democracy and the right to choose its representatives,\u201d he said, adding that the party would hold protests and a shutter-down strike \u201cwith the masses\u201d against the alleged electoral manipulation.<\/p>\n
He said PTI and the opposition alliance, Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), would continue their efforts to restore democracy and uphold the rule of law. He said that as many as 10 committees had been formed at international, national and provincial levels to mobilise support for the protest.<\/p>\n
He said that Feb 8 was a \u201cday of humiliation\u201d for the entire nation as people had been allegedly deprived of their fundamental right to elect representatives and became powerless.<\/p>\n
PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal said the party would combine the protest with mourning activities.<\/p>\n
He alleged that law enforcement agencies had focused on arrests and crackdowns against PTI workers, resulting in weak security arrangements in the federal capital and leading to Friday\u2019s bombing that left at least 36 people dead and scores injured. \u201cIf police had focused on the security of the federal capital, the suicide attacker may not have entered the city,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n
\u2018Silent agitation\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n In Punjab, the PTI said it would observe a \u201csilent agitation\u201d by urging people to stay home and keep bazaars and transport shut voluntarily as part of a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike to express their resentment against a \u201cForm-47 government that stole people\u2019s mandate\u201d.<\/p>\n Party workers and office-bearers distributed pamphlets and met representatives of traders, students and transport unions to seek support for the strike.<\/p>\n The party\u2019s Punjab chapter prepared two pamphlets \u2014 titled Imran Khan qaid nahin<\/em> (Imran Khan is not imprisoned) and Pakistan ki faryad \u2014 abhi ya phir kabhi nahin<\/em> (Pakistan\u2019s cry \u2014 now or never) \u2014 and directed its MNAs, MPAs, ticket-holders and office-bearers to distribute them door to door, in markets and at shops across the province.<\/p>\n PTI Punjab chief organiser Aliya Hamza Malik urged people to suspend outdoor activity and stay home as a form of protest. She also called for torch-bearing rallies after Maghrib prayers at the union council level.<\/p>\n \u201cThe all-day-long protest and torch-bearing rallies are very important for our leader Imran Khan\u2019s release from jail,\u201d Ms Malik said.<\/p>\n Party leaders in the province also criticised police raids and arrests of workers, alleging harassment of families during search operations.<\/p>\n Rallies at district, tehsil level in KP<\/strong><\/p>\n In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI said it would hold rallies and processions at district and tehsil levels. Some traders and transport unions have also agreed to join the party\u2019s protest.<\/p>\n PTI\u2019s provincial information secretary Adeel Iqbal said elected MNAs and MPAs would lead the demonstrations in their areas. PTI district president Irfan Saleem said workers in Peshawar would gather in the Hashtnagri area around noon before marching through the city. He said a rally at Chowk Yadgar would be addressed by party leaders.<\/p>\n In Okara, police arrested 30 PTI workers ahead of Sunday\u2019s protests. PTI\u2019s Mehr Abdul Sattar was detained for seven days under MPO Ordinance. Police also raided the house of PTI-backed MNA Usama Hamza in Gojra, but he was not found.<\/p>\n