Shifting blame: Parliament, PTV attacks were a govt plot, says PTI
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday ramped up accusations against the government, accusing it of orchestrating attacks on state institutions in a bid to defame the party’s struggle in the country.
Addressing the media after the party’s core committee meeting, PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi clearly distanced his party from the attacks on Pakistan Television (PTV) headquarters and parliament. He insisted that PTI had no connection with either attack.
“We have apprehensions that the government might have orchestrated the attack on PTV and the Parliament House to portray that PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) wanted to derail the democratic system,” said Qureshi, denying allegations levelled by the government.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) had issued non-bailable arrest warrants of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, PTI chief Imran Khan and members of his political coterie for allegedly storming parliament and trying to take over the Pakistan Television building, taking it off air and beating up the station’s journalists on Sept 1.
The rallies turned deadly in September when demonstrators clashed with police in the centre of Islamabad near government buildings. Three people were killed.
Qureshi also heaped scorn at the Sindh government for denying permission to his party for holding its upcoming rally in Larkana and asked workers halt their arrangements.
“We are coming to Sindh irrespective of barriers,” Qureshi said in a forceful tone, adding that denying permission to hold a rally in Larkana was not worthy of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) -- a staunch advocate of democracy.
In a bid to allay government’s fears, the PTI leader said that his party does not want violence and its November 30 rally in Islamabad would be peaceful.
Warning the government ahead of the planned rally in the capital, he said blocking roads or creating hurdles would not serve any purpose.
According to party insiders, Imran has directed PTI’s provincial leadership to ensure the presence of maximum number of participants for the November 30 rally from their respective constituencies.
They revealed that party leaders also deliberated on the arrest warrants issued by the anti-terrorism court against Imran and members of his immediate entourage.
During the meeting, the party also debated details related to the upcoming rally in Larkana.
The PTI chief is expected to highlight both the famine in Thar and the outbreak of diseases in the province.
Mazari’s reaction
Earlier in the day, in response to the information minister’s accusations, PTI information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari alleged that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) had links with militant organisations.
“I will present videos showing PML-N’s links with former al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden,” Mazari said.
Rejecting information minister’s claims, who said that PTI was recruiting militants for its upcoming rally in Islamabad, she said that Imran Khan supported operation Zarb-e-Azb and the assertions made by Pervez Rashid were wrong.
Later in the evening, Imran Khan lashed out at former president Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, criticising them for their alliance.
Addressing his supporters at the D-Chowk, Imran said that the PPP was creating hurdles for his party’s rally in Larkana while PML-N opened fire on peaceful protesters in Jhelum.
He said that peaceful PTI workers in Jhelum were sprayed with bullets by a former MPA and TMO for raising the “go,Nawaz go” slogan.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2014.
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1728020241-0/Express-Tribune-Web-(12)1728020241-0-270x192.webp "pti says nov 24 will decide who stays in party")
I am amused at the statements of PTI trolls still trying to defend the lost Plot.
@zahid: Shame of those who saying only one party PTI laying.........not others
Shame of those who still believe in PMLN, remember one day this party will sell Pakistan including you guys..
@Fasadi: Please describe first what is PTI ideology. PTI ideology is justice and rise against corrupt mafia. I dare your corrupt PMLN leaders to live in their own houses without electricity or generators just for two weeks or live in container just for two weeks and give open public jalsa every day with the same level of security that IK has.
@Roger: I am 100% sure you are lier. You did not vote for PTI. If you did you would not be posting this comment. You are part of PMLN troll. Did you vote PTI to just focus on KP and leave the center which is trying everything to create hurdles for KP but despite of that change is emerging in KP. Try to compare oranges with oranges. PU is being ruled by PMLN for decades whereas KP is just 18 months.
No matter what you say.
PTi all the way!!!!!!!
Be strong PTi , Status Quo will not let you kick them out easily We are with you. they have sunken their teeth in our system in last 60 years, BE STRoNG
So suddenly months after the incident all PTI has to say is that it was a government plot.This party has nothing accept accusing unfounded charges on others and shifting their wrong doings on others. SMQ even did put the blame of multan incident on PMLN. This is most convenient to put everything on government and PMLN.
PTI has completely lost it. Anyone who does not believe in its ideology is corrupt and status quo, while anyone corrupt in it are not corrupt. If Imran Khan was himself not status quo why does he use a helicopter to commute or need VIP gates to enter and exit from. Why does he go home every night to sleep in the comfort of his Bani Gala Mansion, why cant he give a continuous dharna and sleep on the ground at the protest site. What TUQ gave was a dharna, IKs dharna is a joke.
PTI has no shame and take public for fools. SMQ should watch footage aired by all major channels on that day clearly showing PTI flag bearers attacking the Parliament and PTV with their cousins TUQ. Also has SMQ forgotten the speeches made by IK and TUQ congratulating each other for taking over state buildings and inciting violence. Though I voted PTI in last elections I won't do the same again for I expected them to focus on KPK and transform it into a model province something which they have miserably failed to do because of their lack of interest in it. What a waste of peoples time and vote.
Long ago there was a small kid from poor neighborhood who wore a long shirt without trouser .Seeing other, this innocent kid out of shyness, would lift front of his shirt and cover his face leaving others burst into laughter.
And the man sitting in the container is also a government agent and not IK. We only came here for picnic and samosas. And all those deadlines to meet demands "or else" was sheikh rashid's idea
Lies after lies after lies. PTI has become a disappointment and looks more like a typical Pakistani political party every day.
"He insisted that PTI had no connection with either attack."
Oh, really? Shouldn't be too hard to prove it in court, then.