PESHAWAR: PML-N provincial cabinet here on Saturday endorsed the decision taken by the party’s top leadership to support the Azadi March announced by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl against the PTI government and directed its office-bearers to ensure maximum participation of workers in the rallies.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet held at its secretariat with provincial president Amir Muqam in the chair. The party’s MNAs, MPAs and district level office-bearers also participated in the meeting.

Prominent among those who shared their views on this occasion include provincial general secretary MNA Murtaza Javed Abbasi, provincial spokesman Ikhtiar Wali Khan, Rashid Mehmood, Malik Jehanzeb and members of the provincial and national assemblies.

The meeting also discussed organisational matters and activities of the party in different parts of the province and gave suggestions for strengthening of the party. The participants also stressed the need for coordinated efforts and unified stand by the opposition parties to oust the government as early as possible.

Referring to different events, Mr Muqam claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter of the party always remained very active. He conveyed to the participants the instructions given by the party’s leadership regarding participation in the JUI-F anti-government march and vowed to continue the support unless the rulers tendered resignation. He said that the rulers were unable to understand the impact of Azadi March on national politics.

“It has become necessary to get rid of the government at all costs otherwise the irresponsible decisions will further damage the country’s economy,” he said and added that it was the duty of every patriotic citizen to play role in the best national interest.

He said that owing to the ‘childish’ decisions of the government the country was facing isolation at the international level. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was using derogatory words against the politicians.

Mr Muqam expressed his reservations about the accountability process and alleged that only opposition leaders were targeted. He claimed that the PML-N leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khwaja Saad Rafiq and others, had been imprisoned without any solid reason. He said that history would repeat itself and all those involved in victimisation of the opposition would have to face the reaction in future.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2019