—— Opp leader says actions targeting PTI would not be forgotten by history
—— Laments late-night action on party office
—— Law Minister says partial demolition was according to law
—— Tarar takes ‘strong exception’ to accusations of attacking judiciary
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz lashed out at the treasury benches on Friday for its purported ‘role’ in targeting the PTI, asserting that such actions, conducted “under their watch,” would not be forgotten by history.
A day earlier, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) demolished and sealed the PTI Central Secretariat located in Sector G-84 of the federal capital for violating building by-laws as part of its crackdown on illegal constructions and encroachments.
The operation led to a confrontation between PTI activists and the police. PTI Islamabad President Aamir Mughal was also arrested during the clash.
Referring to last night’s attack, Shibli said, “Our party’s electoral symbol, representing the largest political group in the country, was stripped away. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were apprehended on false allegations, and the entire nation knows it. Our party has been banned in all aspects.”
“Those currently occupying the treasury benches, absent or silent during our protest, show that they endorse these violent actions,” the senator said.
Claiming that the party workers were baton-charged, Shibli further added, “You cannot do politics by force. You can take away our party symbol, jail our chairman, demolish our offices, and raid our homes, but you cannot erase the affection for Imran Khan from the hearts of the majority of 250 million people in this country.”
“Everything is happening under your watch. It would be a travesty when history will be recalled tomorrow. When your future generations will look back on history, they will realize who was in the right. History does not forgive anyone!” the senator remarked.
Shibli asserted that the PML-N-led coalition government failed to secure more than 27 seats in the February 8 polls, implying they attained power through a ‘stolen mandate’.
Following this, Shibli mentioned the attack on PTI’s Information Secretary Raoof Hasan claiming that there was enough CCTV footage, yet the attackers have not been arrested. “If this is politics, we are ready to abandon it,” he said.
The senator demanded the immediate release of Amir Mughal and others arrested.
Speaking after Shibli, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar responded that the CDA has been issuing notices about encroachment to the PTI since 2020, with the latest reminder sent on May 10th. The notice reiterated concerns over the construction of two unapproved floors, along with the placement of containers and a parking shed in a public area. The CDA consistently sought a response from the PTI as the public was encountering problems.
In response to Faraz’s accusation that Tarar was making strong [verbal] attacks on the judiciary, the law minister said he took “serious exception” to the remark. Tarar clarified that if suggesting non-encroachment or safeguarding every individual’s dignity comes under attack, he feels no discomfort in making such statements.
