PESHAWAR/BANNU: MNA Ayesha Gulalai’s harassment allegation against Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf chairman Imran Khan has taken tribal and religious connotations after lawmakers from rival parties sought to punish the accuser and the accused under the religious and tribal traditions.

Three women lawmakers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz submitted resolution to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Thursday demanding punishment for Imran Khan in accordance with Islamic law.

MPAs Aamna Sardar, Sobia Shahid and Ruqia Hina submitted a joint resolution to the provincial assembly’s secretariat, which said PTI chairman had adopted an uncivilised and derogatory attitude towards Ayesha Gulalai and thus, breaching the honour of the brave people of the province.

CM special assistant says Gulalai told to appear before Bannu jirga to prove allegation

It added that the assembly recommended to the federal government to punish Imran Khan under the Sharia law and take legal action under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The resolution didn’t carry signatures of the members of other opposition parties in the assembly.

MPA Sobia Shahid said after Gulalai’s harassment allegation surfaced, Imran Khan was no more sadiq and amen (honest and righteous).

Our correspondent from Banni adds: Special assistant to the KP chief minister Malik Shah Mohammad Khan has announced that Ayesha Gulalai and her father will be provided an opportunity to appear before a tribal jirga in Bannu to prove her allegations against Imran Khan otherwise their house would be demolished.

Addressing a news conference, Malik Shah said he had approached the elders of Utmanzai, major tribe of North Waziristan Agency, Bannu and its adjacent Frontier Region, to convene the jirga immediately.

He said Ayesha Gulalai and her father, Shamus Wazir, would be invited to the jirga to plead their case.

“The jirga will support the MNA and her family if she presents evidence against Imran Khan,” he said, adding that if Gulalai failed to produce credible evidence, then the jirga would make decision on the matter in accordance with tribal traditions.

“Her (Gulalai’s) house will be demolished, while her family will be expelled from the tribe and that her domicile will be cancelled,” said the special assistant on transport and mass transit department.

He said there was no room for character assassination in tribal traditions and customs.

Gulalai family belongs to Bannu district and lives in Domail area.

She was elected MNA on PTI ticket on reserved seats for women. The MNA had lived in Miramshah area of North Waziristan Agency.

Malik Shah said Ayesha Gulalai claimed that she belonged to Ahmadzai Wazir tribe and was a native of Bannu but she leveled ‘factitious and baseless’ allegations against Imran Khan.

“We consider her allegations a ‘politically-motivated’ suicide attack on the PTI and therefore, it is essential for her to appear before the tribal jirga,” he said.

He alleged that the MNA had bent upon the character assassination of Imran Khan and PTI to receive dollars.

The special assistant said Imran always gave respect to women workers and leaders.

He asked Gulalai to resign from the National Assembly.

He said Gulalai enjoyed all perks and privileges for four years and had planned to join another political party to confirm her seat in the assembly for the next five years.

“Ayesha Gulalai leveled allegations against Imran Khan at a time when the National Accountability Bureau is filling references against Nawaz Sharif, who has been disqualified by the Supreme Court,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2017