Agitation: Dozens join Tehreek-i-Insaf’s accountability demo

"PTI will continue to protest until the deadlock over the TORs is resolved," says Syeda Saloni Bukhari

LAHORE: Dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers on Sunday gathered at Liberty Chowk to stage a demonstration as part of the party’s Tehreek-i-Ehtisaab campaign.

The campaign has been launched by PTI chairman Imran Khan to press for an investigation on Panama leaks by a judicial commission under terms of reference set by the opposition. The campaign includes a protest march from Peshawar to Attock. The party has announced that protests would be organised every week until the government complied with the demand. Sunday’s protest was organised by the party’s women wing. Syeda Saloni Bukhari, Seemi Bukhari and MPA Saadia Sohail participated in the demonstration.

The participants chanted slogans against the government.

Addressing the protesters, Bukhari said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was not serious about addressing the issue of accountability.

“The party (PTI) will continue to protest until the deadlock over the TORs is resolved. The PTI wants independent investigation into the Panama Papers controversy. Party workers will respond to the chairman’s call at a moment’s notice. The nation is united in demanding that the prime minister come clean about his off-shore holdings.”

Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, the former Punjab organizer of the PTI, said elimination of corruption was essential for prosperity of the country.

“The parties defending corruption have no future in Pakistani politics,” he said.

Talking to newsmen on Sunday before leaving for Peshawar, he said, “The PTI supporters are again taking to the streets due to the stubbornness of the PML-N regarding the Panama Papers,” he said.

“Support of the people make this accountability campaign a turning point for the country. Our movement will gain momentum in the coming days, especially in Lahore and the Punjab,” he said.

PTI’s information secretary Syed Sumsam Bukhari said the prime minister should not be afraid of submitting to accountability.

“He should step forward and answer questions about the wealth he has amassed illegally,” he said. “Instead of holidaying in Muree, he should focus on governance,” he said. He said participation of people in large numbers in PTI’s rally in Peshawar was evidence that the people too wanted accountability of the prime minister and his family.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2016.