KARACHI: In a clear threat to those allegedly ‘conspiring’ against the Imran Khan’s government and the country in collusion with ‘foreign powers’, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf legislators hanged an effigy of ‘traitors’ of the country outside the Sindh Assembly building during a protest on Wednesday.

After hanging the cloth effigy, which symbolises ‘traitors’ of the country, the PTI leaders said that they had submitted a resolution in the Sindh Assembly seeking a joint condemnation of the alleged foreign intervention in internal affairs of Pakistan.

The resolution was submitted against all those who were “conspiring against the elected government”, they added.

The Sindh Assembly was the first place where a resolution for creation of Pakistan was presented in 1938. After more than 80 years, the house would reject those who had been conspiring against its existence, they said.

Resolution filed in Sindh Assembly against alleged foreign intervention

The resolution submitted by the PTI MPAs also sought the Sindh Assembly to reaffirm its support for all state institutions and the sovereignty of the country.

The resolution, which carried signatures of a number of PTI lawmakers, was formally presented to the Sindh Assembly secretary.

The legislators were led by Leader of the Opposition Haleem Adil Sheikh, PTI parliamentary party leader Khurram Sher Zaman and president of Karachi chapter Abdul Gaffar.

“This resolution actually declares efforts of opposition parties aimed at overthrowing the government with foreign intervention as serious violation of democratic norms and a very sensitive issue against integrity of the country,” said Mr Sheikh while talking to reporters after filing the resolution outside the assembly.

“We have demanded the august house take action against the members who are part of the foreign guided conspiracy. The nation will not forgive the enemies of the homeland who are exposed. We are not against the United States or any other country, but conspiracies by foreign powers against the homeland are totally unacceptable,” Mr Sheikh added.

Blaming the three major opposition parties for leading the alleged foreign-funded conspiracy against Pakistan, he warned that the people would not remain silent and all those political forces found “against the stability of Pakistan” would face the ‘consequences’.

PTI leader Sher Zaman said that PM Khan had exposed all the ‘traitors of Pakistan’ and the entire nation stood united against the ‘traitors’, who “acted on foreign directives and bargained” over their conscience and national interests.

“Chief Justice of Pakistan should take suo motu notice against the acts of treason and its perpetrators,” he said, adding that the people of Pakistan were anxious for guidance and justice from the Supreme Court.

“The time has come and the PTI in upcoming general elections will form a government in Sindh like other provinces of Pakistan,” he claimed, adding that the era of those who enjoyed mandate of rural and urban Sindh over the past three decades had finally come to an end.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2022