ISLAMABAD: Senior politician Fawad Chaudhry has voiced concerns over the struggles faced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists, claiming that party leaders are not stepping out of their rooms.
Speaking outside an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where the hearings for Azam Swati and Fawad Chaudhry’s five cases from May 9 were underway, he expressed frustration with the current situation of the party.
The court extended their interim bail in these cases. “We have appeared before the anti-terrorism court for the 517th time; does that mean we are all ter-rorists? If we are, why do the people of Pakistan vote for us?” he questioned.
Chaudhry said out that no PTI leader is willing to face the public while their activists endure hardships. “All activists are facing difficulties, while leaders remain hidden,” he remarked.
He added that Salman Akram Raja acts like a don from the 1970s, suggesting that leadership is insulat-ed from the arrests facing their supporters.
He lamented the plight of the party’s supporters, stating, “They are languishing in jails while leaders enjoy their comforts. My entire family’s name is on the exit control list, yet these leaders are carefree and lack a strategy to free the founding member of PTI from jail.”
In a plea to fellow senior politicians, Chaudhry urged Bushra Bibi and Aleema Khan to enter politics and help formulate strategies for the party’s future and the release of the party’s founder.
In another interview, Sher Afzal Marwat has recommended that someone other than Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur lead the party’s upcoming protests.
Speaking private TV channle show, Marwat expressed admiration for Gandapur but stressed the need for a change in leadership during protests to prevent the opposition from exploiting the situation.
He highlighted concerns that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- N) and other parties accuse the province of attacking the federal government and misusing public resources.
Marwat warned that Gandapur’s involvement in protests could provide a pretext for implementing governor’s rule in the province, further weakening the existing government.
“Instead of relying on Ali Amin, we need to bring forward our leadership. We can benefit from Gandapur’s support but need a more strategic approach,” he said. –Agencies
