Shibli Faraz, an opposition leader in the Senate, expressed strong condemnation towards the ruling party for the actions taken against PTI, emphasizing that these actions were being carried out “under their watch.” Faraz’s fiery remarks were made in the Senate, where he vehemently criticized the alleged fascism, oppression, and violence that he claimed were ongoing under the current government’s leadership.
The trigger for Faraz’s outburst was the recent demolition and sealing of a part of PTI’s central secretariat building in Islamabad by the Islamabad police and local authorities, citing violations of building bylaws. Faraz highlighted that the demolition was accompanied by the alleged mistreatment of PTI workers, including baton charging and the arrest of the head of the party’s Islamabad chapter.
In response to these actions, PTI approached the Islamabad police chief against 35 officials involved in the raid, asserting that the action had been taken in the presence of a United Nations delegation. Faraz adamantly stated that such forceful tactics could not erase the support for Imran Khan from the hearts of the majority of the country’s population.
He also accused the ruling coalition government of securing their power on a “stolen mandate” and urged them to at least give the impression of being fair and just. Faraz warned that these actions were not winning the hearts of the people but rather inciting hatred and creating an atmosphere of political instability, which in turn was reflected in the negative economic statistics.
In response to Faraz’s speech, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the actions of the PTI office, stating that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had been ordered to expedite action against encroachments. He emphasized that multiple notices had been sent to PTI regarding construction without approval and other violations and that the recent action was in accordance with the law.
The exchange in the Senate reflects the escalating political tensions and the deep divide between the opposition and the ruling party, with implications for the political landscape and governance of the country.
