Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar said Monday the party will begin holding its own assembly outside Parliament from tomorrow.
Speaking to reporters alongside other PTI leaders, Gohar said if the party founder orders resignations, he and other lawmakers will step down. He added that PTI members will not contest seats of MNAs who have been sentenced and that they will boycott future sessions of the National Assembly.
“Our voice was suppressed, our microphones were shut inside Parliament. This is not democracy, this is fascism,” Gohar said. He added that despite the mandate being “stolen,” the PTI founder still called for dialogue.
Gohar said the Election Commission of Pakistan had issued certificates to all other political parties except PTI. “What use is such a fabricated Parliament and its committees? From tomorrow, we will set up our own assembly outside Parliament,” he announced.
Former National Assembly speaker and PTI leader Asad Qaiser, speaking on the occasion, said the party’s organizations are standing with flood victims. He said PTI would request its founder to appeal for fundraising to support those affected.
Qaiser warned the floods are moving toward Sindh and urged the United Nations and the federal government to engage the international community for assistance. He cautioned the disaster would also negatively impact agriculture.
He further alleged that PTI members were harassed during relief efforts. “We remain firmly with our founder. Even during floods, political victimization is ongoing. We have received reports that our relief camps were dismantled,” Qaiser said.
