PTI protests KP governor’s rule in National Assembly, Gohar announces court challenge

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers staged a protest in the National Assembly on Tuesday against the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, chanting slogans of “Governor’s Rule unacceptable.”

The opposition continued its protest as the National Assembly session was adjourned until 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Speaking to the media, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said his party had planned to register its protest during the assembly session and had also demonstrated outside Parliament.

He accused the government of reviving the era of martial law by removing the provincial government.

“No government can be ousted in this manner,” he said.

Gohar claimed that the KP chief minister was in custody, along with several lawmakers, including Babar Saleem Swati.

He said around 2,000 PTI workers were detained and that several party members could not attend parliamentary proceedings because of their detention.

The PTI chairman questioned the detention of Aleema Khan and Noreen Bibi in connection with the prevailing political situation.

“If this is a war against terrorism, why have Aleema Baji and Noreen Bibi been detained?” he asked.

Gohar also claimed that cases had been registered against PTI members of the provincial assembly in Buner on Tuesday.

He said PTI had always maintained that terrorism was a serious threat and remained committed to fighting it.

“We have always maintained that terrorism is a scourge,” he said.

Gohar accused the federal government of interfering in provincial affairs to the extent that even station house officers were unwilling to listen to the provincial authorities.

“Is this how states function?” he questioned.

The PTI chairman said the party’s founder and his wife remained in jail, while its members and workers faced detention.

He said Pakistanis had united against an enemy five times their size, but PTI members were now being labeled terrorists despite standing with Pakistan.

Gohar said his party had only requested a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan, adding that a full year had passed since their last meeting.

“We merely asked to arrange a meeting with Khan. The last meeting took place on this day last year,” he said.

He accused the government of creating a political crisis through its actions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said PTI would continue its struggle until the situation was resolved.

Gohar announced that he would file a petition in the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday to challenge the government’s measures.