ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Leaders of Islamic Tehrik-i-Pakistan (ITP), formerly known as Tehrik-i-Jafriya Pakistan, on Wednesday rejected the ban imposed on their party, pledging that they would continue their party activities in the country.

“We do not accept any ban on the ITP therefore we would not rename our party,” they said at a press conference held at a local hotel here on Wednesday.

The press conference was addressed by Allama Sheikh Muhammad Mohsin Ali Naqvi, Allama Syed Taqi Naqvi, Allama Syed Muhammad Jawad Hadi, Allama Ramzan Tauqeer, Allama Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi, Allama Muhammad Amin Mushahdi, Allama Mohiuddin Kazim, Syed Muhammad Taha and Syed Muhammad Hussain Bokhari.

The Shia leaders said they would launch a countrywide protest campaign against the arrest of their chief Allama Sajid Naqvi who was booked in the Maulana Azam Tariq assassination case.

They said all religious groups working under the umbrella of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) had offered their support and cooperation to the ITP on the issue of Allama Sajid Naqvi’s arrest.

The leaders of ITP accused the government of harbouring terrorists instead of apprehending them.

They termed the arrest of Allama Sajid Naqvi “a conspiracy” against the Shia community. “This conspiracy is being hatched to bar Shias from holding Azadari meetings and processions in open areas,” they feared.

The ITP leaders said they would give a call for countrywide protest campaign if Allama Sajid Naqvi was not acquitted in the case.

Opinion

Editorial

Environment Day
05 Jun, 2023

Environment Day

OUR world is not reusable nor can it be made perishable. As the plastic tide spins out of control, World Environment...
Spending for votes
05 Jun, 2023

Spending for votes

THE cash-strapped government’s plans to boost its annual development spending by as much as 31pc in the next...
On schadenfreude
Updated 05 Jun, 2023

On schadenfreude

Was it a ‘crime’ that he spoke out against the abuses being suffered by PTI workers at the hands of the state?
Surveillance state
Updated 04 Jun, 2023

Surveillance state

IN the midst of the madness, finally some sanity. Questions critical to the right to privacy of citizens bombarded ...
Transport crisis
04 Jun, 2023

Transport crisis

LIKE many other public-sector projects, governments past and present have promised numerous times to ‘revive’ ...
The Buzdar mystery
04 Jun, 2023

The Buzdar mystery

THE departure of former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar from politics is not really surprising as the PTI is...