PTI vows 'hardline' stance in protest

Provincial president says keeping in touch with 'institutions' failed to work in the past

PESHAWAR:

Adopting an increasingly hardline tone, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) newly appointed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) President Junaid Akbar on Saturday said that, during the long march, there would be no negotiations with anyone as the previous PTI leadership had constantly been in touch with institutions but that hadn't worked.

Regarding the PTI's new organizational set-up in the province, he stated that he had not received any dictation and that he was going to end the culture of selling party positions for money.

He made the comments while addressing a rally in Malakand.

He also announced that he would not seek help from elected representatives for protest demonstrations, saying that those who invested money often engaged in corruption and in commission-based dealings to recover it.

Referring to the May 9 incidents, he warned the PTI would not forget those who had oppressed their workers.

"We will make an example of those who have committed atrocities against our workers," he said.

Addressing the Prime Minister, Akbar said, "Take care of your children, for if our children are crying today, yours will cry tomorrow. If your children do not cry in our government, I will leave the PTI forever."

Akbar announced that the party would utilize its own resources for the February 8 protest.

He revealed that, when he was appointed as the provincial president by the party's founder, he had suggested bringing someone who was on good terms with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

"However, my suggestion was ignored, and I was told that I should not teach Imran Khan about PTI's politics," he observed.

Akbar claimed that he had risen from the grassroots level and knew every person in the party. He asserted that he could convince anyone to follow him.

"I will resign as president if I fail to stand by my words," Akbar declared. He also reiterated his commitment to ending the culture of selling party positions for money.

He further said someone had approached him with an offer to donate Rs500 million for the February 8 protest but that he had refused it as those who invested money in the party often engaged in corruption and commission-based dealings.

"How can we stop corruption if we take money from investors?," Akbar questioned.

He added that he had not received any instructions from Imran Khan regarding a new organizational set-up in the province and planned to meet Khan after the February 8 protest.

He stressed that the PTI's existing organizations would continue to function until he received further instructions. Akbar also announced that he would not set targets for elected members to bring people to the February 8 protest but would instead encourage them to contribute as much as they could.

Akbar also stressed the importance of sincerity and transparency within the party, stating that the culture of investing money to gain power would no longer be tolerated.

He recalled the oppression of PTI workers after May 9 and vowed to make an example of those responsible.

In the event of his arrest during the protest, Akbar instructed party workers to block key roads including the Karakoram Highway, GT Road, Attock Bridge and the Motorway near Swabi without waiting for his call.