DERA GHAZI KHAN: PTI leader Zartaj Gul Wazir made a sudden appearance here at Kalma Chowk and her party supporters enthusiastically welcomed her, showering flower petals on her.

Asserting that she held legal guarantees from the Multan High Court, Zartaj Gul said she was getting unfair treatment in Dera Ghazi Khan as her political groups were freely holding rallies but her party was facing restrictions. She decried the alleged use of force and intimidation against the PTI supporters, stressing her commitment to the people’s cause.

Zartaj condemned the arrests of her party workers and demanded their release, emphasising the protection of the right to vote. She raised slogans in favour of the army as well as the country.

Speaking to the media, she thanked her party’s workers who remained at the Kalma Chowk despite police highhandedness and torture. She said the feudals of the PML-N and the PPP should know that “Zartaj Gul is back”.

She said at least 15 workers had been picked up by police since Monday morning and raids are being conducted.

She urged the authorities and the government to refrain from suppressing people and let them exercise their right to vote.

Since May 9, Zartaj had been underground to avoid arrest and she reappeared in Peshawar a couple of weeks back to obtain bail from the Peshawar High Court. It was her first public appearance among the supporters on the road after about eight months.

Zartaj Gul, who was the state minister for climate change during the PTI-led government, hails from North Waziristan and her husband belongs to Dera Ghazi Khan. She had won the general election from Dera Ghazi Khan in the last general election in 2018, by defeating Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari.

Local observers are of the opinion that due to fear of defeat once again, Awais Leghari did not file his nomination papers from NA-185 and fielded Mehmood Qadir Leghari as an independent candidate for the seat which was earlier NA-191.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2024