SWABI: Leaders and workers of opposition parties staged a protest demonstration here on Wednesday against the ‘failed policies’ of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and demanded holding of the fresh elections in the country.

Activists of JUI-F, PML-N, PPP, ANP, QWP and Swabi Qaumi Mahaz (SMQ) gathered in the district headquarters and marched through different roads and reached the Karnal Sher Khan Chowk in a big procession.

The protest march was led by Maulana Fazal Ali, central naib emir of JUI-F. The protesters were holding placards inscribed with different slogans against the government. They demanded that Prime Minister Imran Khan tender resignation and announce fresh elections, alleging that the present government was not elected but selected.

On the occasion, Fazal Ali said the PTI government had committed blunders one after the other, making the people’s lives miserable. The prices of commodities have gone beyond the reach of common man. Frequent increases in the rates of electricity and gas would create more difficulties for the people, especially those belonging to the poor sections and the middle class, he regretted.

Masood Jabar, former provincial deputy general secretary of QWP, declared that the incompetence of the government was visible in every field. He said the PTI leaders were taking no interest in people’s welfare.

Javid Inqilabi, divisional leader of PPP, alleged that the government had weakened the institutions.

The other leaders said the situation was moving from bad to worse due to wrong policies and priorities of the incumbent government.

MUQAM ASSAILS GOVT: Engr Amir Muqam alleged on Wednesday that the victimisation policy of the government would backfire.

He stated this during a visit to the residence of Shiraz Khan, PML-N district president, in Topi city.

He alleged that the state institutions were being used to victimise the party leaders. “It is an open secret that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and other family members have been targeted under a well-planned conspiracy,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2019