The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday alleged its parliamentarians are under pressure to abandon the party following the Supreme Court ruling in the reserved seats case, which granted 15 days to all “independent” lawmakers to decide whether they wished to be considered members of the former ruling party.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI leader Gohar Ali Khan urged the apex court to intervene and halt the “horse-trading” underway following the announcement of the verdict. Condemning the “abduction” of PTI officials and their family members, as well as several social media workers, he urged the Supreme Court to ensure the implementation of its verdict and prevent any harassment of PTI lawmakers prior to them announcing their party allegiance.
The PTI leader also criticized the government for the re-arrests of PTI supporter Sanam Javed and Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, demanding their immediate release as well as the release of all incarcerated PTI leaders and workers. He claimed Bushra was re-arrested in a Toshakhana case solely to “break” the PTI founder, maintaining she had nothing to do with the case.
According to Gohar, 25 independent MNAs have submitted affidavits confirming their allegiance to the PTI, while the remainder would do so by Monday (today). He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to confirm this development and notify the reserved seats for the PTI immediately.
During the press conference, the PTI leader also reiterated calls for the Supreme Court to fix for hearing the PTI’s petitions on extrajudicial abductions to ensure the release of kidnapped individuals.
Also addressing the media, PTI MNA Atif Khan said the country required governance in line with the law and Constitution, as reliance on brute force, coercion and harassment only encourages barbarity. Another MNA, Sheikh Waqas alleged the aftermath of the May 9 riots had aimed to force defections from the PTI.
PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan, meanwhile, reiterated the party’s calls for filing a high treason case against chief election commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for the “most fraudulent” elections in the country’s history.