PESHAWAR: With the party’s leadership reluctant to own activists, who had hoisted the party’s flag at the main gates of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s building on Sept 11 during a protest against the PTI, some PML-N office-bearers warn they’ll repeat the act at the Chief Minister’s House if action was taken against the protesters.

The Sept 11 protest was led by Arbab Khizar Hayat, Waqif Khan, Abdul Sattar Khalil, Ikhtiar Wali and few other PML-N activists.

However, neither PML-N provincial president Pir Sabir Shah, general secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak, provincial information secretary Nasir Khan Musazai attended the protest nor did they own it afterwards.

The same day, a PML-N faction led by Amir Muqam opposed the PTI’s ‘Ehtesab Rally’ from Peshawar to Attock very openly.

Amir Muqam had held a public rally in Peshawar, which was largely attended by the people.

However, it seems the Sept 11’s protest outside the provincial assembly was organised by ‘some individuals’ without the consent of top PML-N leadership.

Many leaders fear if the leadership adopted the ‘same, uncertain’ policies in future, the party will be unable to dislodge the PTI in the province.

An insider told Dawn that PML-N provincial president Pir Sabir Shah supervised the Sept 11 protest from a local hotel but opted not to participate in it. Mr. Shah couldn’t be reached on his cellphone.

PML-N provincial general secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak insisted hoisting of party flag on the assembly’s premises was not in line with the party’s policy otherwise the leadership would have directed him to make arrangements for it.

Peshawar district President Abdul Sattar Khalil and Arbab Khizar Hayat also claimed the top party leaders, except Maryam Nawaz, didn’t own the protest.

Mr. Hayat added that the decision to hold protest was made at Pir Sabir Shah’s house but he (Pir Sabir) couldn’t reach the protest venue on time. He however didn’t elaborate.

“The hoisting of party flag at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s gates is not a crime. In case any legal action is taken against protesters, we will hoist party flag at the main gate of the chief minister’s house,” he said.

The PML-N leader said his party had founded the country and hoisting of its flag at a place was not wrong at all.

“Our workers have hoisted the party’s flag and not that of India. Taking a legal action against us will reflect the nervousness of the provincial government,” he said, adding that PML-N workers would ‘render sacrifices’ for the security of PM Nawaz Sharif’s Raiwind house if PTI chief Imran Khan marched on it.

He said the PML-N activists couldn’t be intimidated by threats of legal action or arrests.

Similarly, Abdul Sattar Khalil said Maryam Nawaz’s favourable statement was enough for the participants of the Sept 11 protest.

“Nawaz Sharif and Pir Sabir Shah are our leaders. We will not allow anyone to disgrace them,” he said.

The PML-N leader said the party workers had faced hardships during General Musharraf’s martial law but refused to give in.

When asked about the some PML-N activists forming the ‘Mujahid Force’ to block the PTI march on Raiwind, he said, “it’s not Mujahid Force. We do not agree with this name. The name should be Pasban Force,” he said.

PML-N provincial information secretary Nasir Khan Musazi wasn’t available for version on the matter despite repeated attempts.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2016