PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter has demanded of the authorities to grant it permission to hold a workers’ convention in the provincial capital on Oct 14.

In a video statement, PTI provincial vice-president Zahir Shah Toru said that they had approached the authorities seeking permission for the gathering.

He demanded of the chief secretary and the police chief to allow his party to hold the workers’ convention. Besides, he also demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan, the federal and provincial caretaker governments to allow his party to carry out its political activities.

He complained that his party was not being allowed political activities in the province. He said political activities had started across the country ahead of the elections, but his party was not being allowed to conduct its activities. “Political activities are our constitutional and democratic right,” he said.

Mr Toru demanded that like Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party and other parties, his party too should be allowed to conduct its political activities in the province.

He said last week, they had also approached the authorities for holding a workers’ convention in Mardan, but the party workers were prevented from arriving at the site of the gathering. Besides, he said the police also lodged cases against his party workers and harassed them.

He demanded of the authorities to provide a level-playing field to his party in the upcoming elections.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2023