PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday vowed that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf would continue its struggle for the country’s “real independence” and strengthening democracy.

He expressed these views while addressing a big public gathering arranged here to pay tributes to those allegedly killed and injured as result of firing on the PTI protesters at the D-Chowk in Islamabad.

PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali, central secretary information Sheikh Waqas Akram and several central and provincial leaders of the party also attended the gathering.

The participants offered Fateha for the departed souls. Quran Khwani was also held on the occasion. The participants prayed for the departed souls and quick recovery of the wounded workers of the party.

Gathering held to pay tributes to those allegedly killed, injured in Islamabad protest

The injured party activists, relatives and children of the deceased workers from across the province and Balochistan were also present on the occasion.

A big banner with the picture of the deceased party workers and PTI founder Imran Khan was displayed at the stage. The relatives and children of the slain PTI workers were holding their portraits.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Gandapur insisted that the party workers had sacrificed their lives for the “real independence” of Pakistan and democracy.

“Their struggle for the real independence will not stop with the firing incident at D-Chowk, rather it will continue till achieving the objectives,” he said.

He said that blood of the party workers would definitely bear fruit for the country.

He warned the rulers against tweaking the Constitution and laws, and said they would face the same situation currently faced by the PTI.

He said that the party would continue to raise the questions as to “why bullets were fired at peaceful protesters”.

“Those who fired bullets on the protesters at D-Chowk and those who issued orders will both be answerable for shedding blood of the unarmed protesters,” he said.

Without naming any force in connection with opening of fire on the protesters, the chief minister said: “Whoever was obeying unconstitutional orders was not performing his duties rather he was committing betrayal with the nation, country and Islam.”

“The PTI struggle is based on truth and righteousness, which will continue,” he vowed.

“Today those who are tightlipped over the bullets fired on PTI workers, tomorrow they will also receive bullets from the same people,” he argued.

On the occasion, Maulana Ameerullah from Mohmand district, representing the religious wing of the PTI, said the way PTI protesters were treated at D-Chowk had no precedence in Pakistan’s history.

“Opening fire on the workers is a classic example of barbarism and cruelty,” he said, adding those killed were actually “martyred” because they rendered their lives for a good cause.

Ameerullah said that PTI workers were martyred for their struggle for ‘real’ independence of the country.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024