ISLAMABAD: The PTI has accused the federal government of a crackdown on its candidates for local government elections in Islamabad, alleging the PML-N wanted to keep the party workers away from polls fearing its defeat in the much-delayed polls for local bodies.

PTI Islamabad Local Government Committee Chairman Malik Amir Ali condemned the government’s move to detain PTI district office-bearers ahead of the polls. He said that the PML-N government re-arrested PTI leader Raja Tahir Nawaz from the court even though the court granted him bail.

Malik Amir stated that the ruling PML-N was “petrified of defeat in the LG polls; hence it resorted to such a high-handed approach to spread fear among the people”. The PTI leader claimed that the government wanted to keep the PTI workers and leaders out of the “electoral process through intimidations and detentions”. However, he made it clear that PTI was standing with its workers in this tough time, and the party would take part in the forthcoming local body polls with full force to trounce the political opponents.

When contacted, Ali Awan claimed that the delimitation was completed in the federal capital and it was hoped that the local bodies elections would be held soon. “Currently, our workers are being arrested and being forced to give written statements that they will not remain associated with the PTI,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, the PTI also congratulated the residents of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi over the inauguration of I.J. Principal Road, claiming that it was the project of PTI and was completed by 70pc during its tenure. The party has also appreciated the decision to name the road after Karnal Sher Khan.

Former MNA Ali Nawaz Awan said that it was unfortunate that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not bother to admit that it was PTI’s project and Rs4.9 billion was allocated during the tenure of the PTI government. He said that the project was one of the most important for the residents of the twin cities.

“It is nothing but a lie as he was inaugurating the project announced by the PTI; 70pc work on the road was completed during the tenure of my party. Credit goes to Imran Khan and former minister for planning Asad Umar,” he said, contesting the prime minister’s claim that development projects were halted during the tenure of the PTI.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2023