SWABI: The leaders of Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) said here on Wednesday that they would stage a sit-in again in Islamabad if their demands were not accepted by the government.

Addressing a meeting at Haqqani Library, they said that Pakhtuns awakening campaign was a turning-point in their struggle and they could no longer be victimised like the past.

The meeting was attended by PTM leaders and a number of local people. The main objective of the meeting was to persuade people to participating in the March 8 meeting of PTM in Peshawar.

Threaten to stage sit-in in Islamabad if govt fails to accept their demands

The PTM leaders demanded an end to the alleged targeting of Pakhtuns and questioned their lagging behind in every field despite having huge natural resources, cogent manpower, capacity and capability to achieve the dream of prosperity.

They demanded end to forced disappearances and use of alleged coercive tactics to silence those, who raised their voice for the rights Pakhtuns. They said that they would not sit silent and would stage a sit-in again in Islamabad if their main demands were not accepted by the government.

Dr Said Alam Mehsud, chief of Pakhtunkhwa Olasi Tehreek, said that Pakhtuns always rendered sacrifices but in turn got nothing. He said that PTM was a ray of hope for Pakhtuns.

Bilal Mandokhel, the PTM central leader, said that they planned to continue peaceful protest across the country to educate Pakhtuns about their rights and get them united.

Rahim Shah Afridi, president of Fata Lawyers Forum, said that unity among Pakhtuns was requirement of their campaign and vital aspect of the struggle of PTM.

Ali Wazir, the central leader of PTM, said as to why Naqeebullah Mehsud was killed in a fake encounter by former SP Rao Anwar. “What wrong he did? His only crime was that he was a Pakhtun,” he said.

Masood Jabar, district chairman of Qaumi Watan Party, said that unity of Pakhtuns needed continuous struggle, devotion, concentration and determination.

Jehanzeb Khan, former district nazim, said that Pakhtuns got a true leadership in the shape of PTM. He said that Pakhtuns belonging to all areas of the country should back PTM to achieve its objectives.

PTI: The leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf here on Wednesday welcomed the reservations expressed by parliamentary working group about the proposed delimitation of the constituencies for upcoming general elections.

PTI district president Anwar Haqdad Khan said that the proposed delimitation of the constituencies caused unrest among politicians. He said that delimitation of the constituencies would affect the performance of the political parties.

VOTER LIST: Ajmal Hafeez, the district election commissioner, here on Wednesday urged people to visit the 117 display centres in the district to check their names in the voter lists.

Addressing a press conference, he said that the voters should come forward if they wanted to change their place of registration. “We want to facilitate the voters and ensure their participation in the general elections 2018,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2018