To the Parliament: PML-N Malakand leaders not to participate in protest

Say announcement made by workers who have narrow interests at heart.

BATKHELA: The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Malakand chapter has distanced itself from party workers who plan to hold a protest outside Parliament House, Islamabad on October 28. 

This was announced by PML-N Malakand President Alhaj Mohammad Easal Khan at a news conference in Batkhela on Sunday.

“We will not participate in the protest organised by party workers against the provincial and central leadership,” he said. A large number of party activists from other districts also attended the conference.

Vested interest?

According to PML-N leaders who spoke on the occasion, the protest call was made by a group of workers who have narrow interests at heart. A majority of them are trying to seek undue benefits by using the party’s name, said the speakers.

The protest had been announced on Friday during a news conference at the residence of party leader Ahmadzada Khan. However, speakers at Sunday’s conference said Ahmadzada had been expelled from the party many years ago for opposing a party candidate during an election in the region.

Points of authority

During the conference, the party’s Malakand district president said PML-N Peshawar President Abdul Sattar Khalil had no authority to make such remarks.



“Only opportunistic party leaders from Malakand, Dir, Swat, Buner and Shangla participated in the press conference,” he added. Easal said PML-N was united in Malakand and had faith in the provincial and central leaderships. “If Khalil has grievances with the central and provincial leadership, he should resolve them through negotiations with the leadership rather than hold sit-ins or protests.”

Clearing the air

The district president added, “Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, PML-N K-P President Pir Sabir Shah, PML-N Central General Secretary Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, PML-N K-P General Secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak and PM’s adviser Amir Muqam have rendered sacrifices for their party.” According to Easal, Pir Sabir Shah and Rahmat Salam should also be appointed as advisers to the prime minister.

Leaders present said they would support PML-N workers in their fight for genuine causes but were not in favour of the decision to protest outside Parliament House on October 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2015.