RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) president Javed Hashmi, who distanced himself from the anti-government sit-in, said on Sunday that party chairman Imran Khan had violated a party decision as it was agreed that marchers would not proceed towards PM’s House or Parliament House. Speaking at a press conference here, he said that a party delegation had held a meeting with the government on Saturday evening and was looking forward to hearing from the government side. He said all party leaders had agreed to continue the sit-in on Constitution Avenue instead of shifting it to the PM House and Imran also agreed to the party decision. According to him, just after 20 minutes, Imran decided to follow in the footsteps of Dr Tahirul Qadri who had asked his followers to begin their march to the PM’s House.

“Imran Khan had assured me that he would not move forward from Constitution Avenue, and it was the party’s unanimous decision. My personal suggestion to him was also not to move towards the PM’s House,” he maintained.

He said that when Imran told him that there was no option to stay back and it became necessary to move forward after PAT protesters led by Tahirul Qadri began their march towards the PM’s House.

Hashmi claimed that Imran changed his stance under the influence of Sheikh Rasheed and Saifullah Niazi who purported conveyed some ‘message’ to him. He added that although he did not agree with the current system, he would not seek to ruin the sanctity of Parliament.

He urged political parties and government to act responsibly, adding the PTI leadership also must not put people’s lives at risk. Hashmi condemned police attacks on mediamen, saying the government should not punish the media for showing the truth.

Hashmi regretted that there was no democracy in the party, adding he had advised Imran to prefer talks to a sit-in in front of PM’s House. “Shah Mehmood Qureshi had also supported my viewpoint,” he claimed.

Hashmi asked Imran Khan to come back to ‘D Chowk’, the venue of the PTI sit-in, stating that he would stand by him if he did so. He said that Imran Khan will be responsible if democracy was derailed, adding there’s hardly any distance between martial law and us [politicians]”.

Hashmi urged Khan to take his party out of this embarrassment, adding that such protests were not even allowed in Washington and London. “I’m still with you but I request you to revisit your decision as it will harm our struggle for democracy,” he added.