KARACHI: As the Pas­htun Tahaffuz Move­ment (PTM) sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly staged for the release of imprisoned MNA Ali Wazir entered its second week on Sunday, the party warned the Pakistan Peoples Party government of staging a ‘counter-protest’ on Feb 27 — the day when the ruling party in the province would begin its long march — if their demands were not met.

On Sunday, a big rally was taken out from Sohrab Goth, which reached the venue of the sit-in in the evening. To attend Sunday’s protest, family members, including children, of the imprisoned Ali Wazir also arrived from Waziristan.

The party leaders said they had held talks with provincial ministers Nasir Husain Shah and Saeed Ghani, who were ready to acco­mmodate their demands but there was a deadlock over the release of MNA Wazir.

They, however, clarified that they were not against the PPP, but its leadership should give some heed to their demands.

They said the PPP government had enough powers to release the MNA and quash cases against him as it had already exercised such powers in the case of retired Captain Safdar.

Source told Dawn that the Sindh government had informed the PTM leaders that they did not have powers to quash the FIRs.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2022