The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to observe “Black Day” on August 5 to protest against the arrest of its founder Imran Khan. However, it has decided not to go to Islamabad for the protest.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Higher Education Mina Khan, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will lead a rally in Peshawar, while separate rallies will be held in all districts. The convoys from Mardan, Swabi, and Nowshera will gather at the Swabi Interchange.
Speaking at a press conference in Swabi, former Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser and Shahram Tarakai said that a peaceful movement will be launched across the country on August 5.
Asad Qaiser said that this day will be marked as a black day in protest against the arrest of the PTI founder.
He stressed that freedom is founder’s legal right, adding that the courts were issuing decisions under government pressure.
Asad Qaiser appealed to the Chief Justice to expedite the founder’s cases and ensure justice.
He said that parliament has been disrespected, and opposition leaders are being punished unjustly.
Shahram Tarakai said that marchers of the August 5 protest will carry white, national and party flags.
He stated that it would be a peaceful protest, however, if provoked, the workers will respond forcefully.
“We do not seek weapons, rather, we want trade opportunities,” he said, adding that commercial routes from Afghanistan should be opened.
Responding to a statement of the PTI founder that Ali Amin Gandapur should resign as chief minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Faraz Mughal said that the KP government represents the vision of the founding chairman, and Gandapur will leave the post whenever the founder wants.
However, Faraz Mughal clarified that Gandapur has not yet received any authentic confirmation of this statement.
The spokesperson said that the chief minister has repeatedly said that the government is a trust of the PTI founder, but it is regrettable that he cannot even meet his leader in Adiala Jail, although there are court orders in place in this regard.
Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly leader Omar Ayub also spoke about the August 5 protest in Haripur and said that the protests will be held at the district level, with no central protest movement planned.
He said that the PTI founder had not made any statement about the resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur.
Omar Ayub also said that the founder’s sons could come to Pakistan whenever they want, and the entire PTI leadership will welcome them.
Omar Ayub strongly criticised the recent court decisions, calling the sentences handed down by the Faisalabad anti-terrorism court against PTI leaders a “crude joke”.
He said that there was no evidence of his involvement in the incidents of May 7, 5 and 9, adding that he was busy taking care of his father on May 7.
Speaking about the economic situation and the recent sugar crisis, Omar Ayub said that Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Zardari made money through their mills in the crisis.
Mohsin Naqvi caused losses to farmers by importing wheat from Ukraine, he alleged, adding that the purchasing power of the people has been diminished.
The price of sugar is fixed at Rs164 but is being sold for more than Rs200, and a levy duty of Rs80 per litre is being charged on petroleum products, he pointed out.
