“While the talks option is open, it is unfortunate that the government wasted our time over 21 attempts at talks,” Chaudhry said. PHOTO: NNI
Chaudhry was addressing journalists at the PTI Punjab’s office on Thursday. PTI Punjab general secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid and information secretary Andleeb Abbas were also present at the press conference.
He said the decision [to postpone the dharna] had been taken in national interest. “But we may decide to continue it.”
[By putting off the dharna] everyone saw how the party had placed national interest before anything else, he said. “It appears as if the government has failed to learn any lessons from the tragic incident which claimed the lives of 141 people.”
The government was deceiving people in the name of holding talks with the PTI, Chaudhry said. He criticised the government for its “lack of seriousness” regarding the talks. “But be warned,” he said. “We are a strong opposition, capable of reorganising and giving the government a run for its money.”
PTI’s Punjab president said the government had failed to focus on issues that troubled the people. “The PTI played a constructive role in the opposition last year... we upheld the sanctity of people’s votes and launched a national movement.”
On the subject of PTI chief Imran Khan’s decision to call a meeting on January 18, Chaudhry said the event was scheduled to congratulate workers who had struggled for the party in the last few months. Khan will also announce the party’s next move then, he said.
“A lot of our workers who were at the frontline for the dharna were put in prisons,” he said. They will be given certificates for their struggle.
He criticised the recent hike in taxes on petroleum products and said the prevailing gas and electricity load shedding had exposed the government’s performance.
“While the talks option is open, it is unfortunate that the government wasted our time over 21 attempts at talks,” Chaudhry said.
The PTI had made its stance clear from day one but the government had failed to fulfil its commitments, he said. On alleged rigging in NA-124, Chaudhry said there were around 24,000 bogus votes cast there.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2015.
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Dharna may have some justification for PTI but please give us a break... It is barely 2 weeks since Peshaesr and we ought to focus on survival first beforethe dailydrama!