Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Monday announced they would boycott upcoming sessions of the National Assembly in protest against what they called the silencing of their voice in parliament.

Speaking outside parliament, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the party would not participate in proceedings on seats where, according to them, “mandates were stolen” and sentences were imposed.

“We attended today’s session, but our microphones were switched off, and our voices suppressed. This is not democracy, this is fascism,” Gohar told reporters.

He said PTI founder had always urged dialogue, even after “our mandate was stolen,” adding that the party had stood by Pakistan in every crisis.

“We stood with the country during floods, we stood by Pakistan during war with India — we have always prioritised the nation over politics,” he added.

Barrister Gohar reiterated that PTI lawmakers will now abstain from attending future National Assembly sessions in protest.