PESHAWAR/QUETTA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced a three-day mourning period to honor Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who lost their lives during a protest in Islamabad, which was abruptly ended by a late-night crackdown earlier this week.
The announcement was made during an emergency session of the KP Assembly, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. Originally scheduled for December 2, the session was convened late on Thursday in response to the incident.
KP Assembly Session
Speaker Swati strongly condemned the actions against PTI protesters, accusing authorities of denying citizens their constitutional right to peaceful protest. He alleged that unarmed demonstrators were targeted by snipers, run over, and subjected to excessive force.
Swati further claimed that the bodies of deceased protesters were missing and the number of unaccounted individuals was increasing. Highlighting global media coverage, he criticized local media for its silence on the issue. Drawing parallels to historical events, Swati likened the crackdown to the treatment of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1971 conflict.
He also alleged assassination attempts on Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi during the protests. In addition, Swati criticized the arrests of PTI lawmakers Anwar Zeb and Malik Liaqat as examples of oppressive governance.
Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi formally announced the three days of mourning to honor the deceased workers, while the session was adjourned until Friday evening.
Balochistan Assembly Seeks Ban on PTI
In Quetta, the Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution urging the federal government to impose a ban on PTI. The resolution, moved by PML-N and PPP legislators, alleged that PTI incited riots, engaged in violent activities, and pursued an agenda harmful to state stability.
The resolution claimed that KP’s leadership used official resources to attack federal institutions, describing it as part of an “enemy agenda.” The assembly session, presided over by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, witnessed strong opposition, resulting in a walkout by several parties, including JUI-F and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Opposition leader Yunus Aziz Zehri argued that banning PTI could set a dangerous precedent, potentially leading to similar actions against other parties. National Party leader Dr. Malik Baloch warned against repeating past mistakes of banning political organizations, calling for a democratic resolution.
However, supporters of the resolution, including Provincial Minister Bakht Mohammad Kakar, defended the move, asserting that a ban was necessary for parties that undermine constitutional principles and engage in violence.
