PESHAWAR: The workers of Pakistan People’s Party continued to hold demonstrations for the second consecutive day on Sunday against the government’s decision to allow former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf to leave the country.

In Peshawar, the workers of People’s Youth Organisation (PYO), led by its district coordinator Farhan Azeem and president Munsif Khan, held a demonstration on Sher Shah Suri Road and chanted slogans against the government, Pervez Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif.

The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the PML-N leadership for allowing Pervez Musharraf to go abroad.

Speaking on the occasion, the PYO leaders said that the former dictator was facing several cases including that of the murder of Benazir Bhutto but federal government allowed him to leave the country.

They said that the prime minister allowed the former dictator to go abroad as PML-N leadership was created by martial law.

The federal government, they said, had taken a very wrong decision to support Musharraf at this stage when entire nation wanted him to face the cases.

Asks prime minister to step down and seek apology from nation

Meanwhile, PPP minority wing has announced to hold demonstrations against Pervez Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif. According to a statement, the announcement was made during a meeting held on Sunday with PPP minority wing provincial president Naseeb Chand in the chair.

Mr Chand directed the divisional and district level organisations to hold separate demonstrations and condemn both Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharrf for what he called striking a deal.

“If Nawaz Sharif had decided to allow Musharraf to leave the country then why PML-N tried to fool the nation by making tall claims that the former dictator would face the murder cases till last,” he questioned.

Mr Chand said that both Nawaz Sharif and Musharraf would face wrath of people as they kept the entire nation in dark. He asked the prime minister to step down and seek apology from the nation.

Similarly, People Students Federation also announced to hold demonstrations on Monday across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PSF provincial president Samiullah in a statement said that both Nawaz and Musharraf were answerable to the nation for their secret deal.

In Lower Dir, PPP workers held a protest demonstration against the federal government for giving permission to Pervez Musharraf to go abroad.

The protesters burnt tyres and blocked road for some time outside Timergara Press Club. They also chanted slogans against the prime minister.

PYO provincial general secretary and councillor Advocate Alamzeb, former MPA Mohammad Zamin Khan, PSF leader Fazal Hussain, Malik Javed Iqbal, Jehan Bahadar, Malik Rahmatullah and Mubarak Khan spoke on the occasion.

“Pervez Musharraf toppled Nawaz government and he was wanted by court in the high profile murder cases of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti but Nawaz government under a secret deal let him go abroad,” they alleged.

They demanded of the federal government to ensure return of the former dictator. They threatened to bring people on the road if government failed to bring him back for facing court cases.

In Shangla, PPP workers staged a protest demonstration against government for allowing former president Pervez Musharraf to go abroad.

A large number of PPP workers and local leaders staged the rally, which started from the main bazaar and culminated at Alpuri Square. The protesters blocked Swat-Bisham Road for an hour. They also chanted slogans against federal government. PYO district chairman Fawad Ali led the protest rally.

The protesters alleged that government gave safe passage to the former dictator, who was involved in killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, students of seminaries and tribal people.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2016