SWABI: The police registered an FIR against 21 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and workers, including senior vice-president Sher Afzal Marwat Advocate, on Saturday night for violating the Section 144 by holding a workers’ convention in the district.

DSP Jawad Khan confirmed the registration of FIR against PTI activists in the Swabi police station.

The convention was held in the hujra (common guest house) of a local leader, Ijaz Khan in Aurangabad village.

“Let the police register cases against us as we are not afraid of them. There are about two months to go when elections are held, and we cannot remain disconnected with our voters,” a PTI leader had told Dawn soon after the conclusion of the convention.

Apart from Sher Afzal, the prominent leaders and workers nominated in the FIR included Abdul Karim, former adviser to the chief minister, Faisal Khan Tarakai, brother of former provincial minister Shahram Khan Tarakai, Attaullah Khan, Swabi mayor, and Major retired Fida Hussain.

Meanwhile, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and former provincial minister Shahram Tarakai congratulated the party workers through social media posts for holding a ‘successful’ convention.

Mr Qaiser said that though the party faced difficult situations but remained steadfast in the face adversity.

Shahram said: “I congratulate all the workers for organising a great convention. I am happy that the historic convention concluded peacefully.”

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2023