Forward bloc suspected in PTI as Jehangir Tareen meets politicians in Lahore
Pakistan
Meets over 20 leaders in a week
LAHORE (Web Desk) – As the political temperature rises in country with crackdown on the PTI and its leaders quitting the party, PTI disgruntled leader Jehangir Tareen on Wednesday met a host of political leaders.
Sources said he had met 20 important politicians in a week raising suspicions that a forward bloc could emerge in the PTI.
Earlier, Mr Tareen held PTI chairman Imran Khan and party leaders responsible for the Jinnah House attack.
The former PTI leader visited Jinnah House where he spoke to the media and condemned the attack. He expressed that he got the chance to visit the Jinnah House and it had deeply saddened him to see how the place was treated. The Corps Commander House was once Jinnah Sahib’s [Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah] house and such an incident had happened after 75 years, he deplored.
On May 23, two key PTI leaders including Shireen Mazari and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan parted their ways with the PTI citing party’s policy to engage in violence. Among others who parted ways are Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi and Aftab Siddiqui.
Mr Chohan, adressing the press conference had said he would call on key PTI leaders including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, and Parvez Elahi, hinting at the emergence of a forward block within the PTI.
On the other hand, Ms Mazari also condemned the violence that erupted on May 9 last after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan. She said her family was her priority.
As for the violence, party leaders had been alleged to have been involved in attacks on military installations including the Lahore’s Corps Commander House and the General Headquarters (GHQ). Consequently, the army vowed to try PTI leaders under the army act, thus tightening the noose around the PTI.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly opposed the decision to try May 9 miscreants under the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secrets Act 1923.
“HRCP strongly opposes the use of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secrets Act 1923 to try civilians. While those responsible for arson and damaging public and private property during the recent protests should be held to account, they remain entitled to due process," the rights body tweeted.
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 16, 2023
In another tweet, it also mentioned that “all those civilians tried under these acts in the past should also have their cases transferred to civil courts.”
