‘PTI has no fight with army, institutions’

Party’s Peshawar chief says they do not want to trigger protests

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Peshawar District President and MNA Sher Ali Arbab has said that by attacking workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and raiding their houses, an attempt is being made to worsen the situation in his city.

“We will remain silent and no one will be allowed to spoil the situation. We do not want people to come out like they did in Quetta and Bannu.” He appealed to the administration and the provincial government to play their role in handling this particular situation.

Another PTI MNA, Shandana Gulzar, also said that pressure was being exerted on the party’s parliamentarians. “Our silence should not be considered a weakness. We will respond to every injustice with our words.

PTI Peshawar President Sir Ali Arbab, Shandana Gulzar, Deputy Information Secretary Irfan Saleem and Amanat Khalil held a joint press conference at the Peshawar Press Club.

Arbab accused certain elements of trying to worsen the situation. “We do not want people to come out like they did in Quetta and Bannu.

They said that the houses of PTI workers were being raided and pointed to the attack on Ali Zaman, one of the party members. The PTI leaders claimed that some activists were even taken from their homes.

“We can no longer remain silent over such incidents. This should stop now. If any citizen is a criminal, there are laws and legal action should be taken, but such raids are not acceptable,” Arbab stressed.

He pointed out that the party had gained its mandate in the province.

“We will not allow anyone to spoil the situation in Peshawar, but we cannot remain silent over the matter. Efforts are afoot to turn the situation in the city into a volatile one.”

He reiterated that the PTI had no fight with the army or any other institutions. “All institutions, including the army, are respectful towards us. The impression that we are battling institutions is incorrect.”

The PTI Peshawar chief expressed the party’s solidarity with the army and all other institutions.