LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan thinks that the government is not using its full power to restrict the November 24 protest announced by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

“The government can check this show within an hour. I counsel it that for how many times it will tolerate to be stung [through the violent protests],” he told the media here on Friday.

He said the PTI agitation was not aimed at securing the release of their party’s founder, but to create chaos and instability in the country. The PTI has transformed from a party of activists to a group of rioters, who are causing damage to both private and public property, he alleged.

Referring to the events of May 9, he asserted that PTI systematically targeted state institutions, which exposed the party’s agenda.

“There are rules and regulations for political protests. But the PTI’s sole agenda appears to be spreading discord and undermining national dignity,” the speaker said, urging the government to take strict action against this “chaotic group” to maintain stability in the country.

“Staging protests during the Chinese president’s visit [back in 2014] and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) [recent] meeting was a well-orchestrated conspiracy,” he said.

He said that as the PTI has been championing the cause of respect for the judiciary, it should respect the Islamabad High Court’s decision against its protest.

Criticising the opposition party for tarnishing the sanctity of Aug 14 by holding protests on the national Independence Day, he regretted that instead of uniting the nation, the PTI turned the day into a symbol of protest, tainting the spirit of national unity and pride.

“Unfortunately, there are people with political sympathies in the judiciary. There are rioters who throw petrol bombs, not political workers in their party,” he said.

Speaker Khan said the PTI is sacrificing Pakistan’s relations with foreign countries for its petty political interests, a reference to Imran Khan’s third wife Bushra Bibi’s social media video message posted two days ago.

“I am not only ashamed of what has come out regarding Bushra Bibi. But I am angry at the extent to which foolish people are being supported. Though Bushra Bibi is not a member of any political party, she is the closest person to the PTI founder,” he said.

“Whether usurping the basic rights of the residents of Lahore and Islamabad is a political right; whether creating chaos is the political party of a party?” the speaker asked.

Earlier, the speaker told the 18th Youth Parliament that today’s society is built on words and one cannot conquer things with the power of gun. The only way forward will be to abandon extremism and violent acts, he added.

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024