ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar said on Monday that the party would boycott National Assembly sessions in protest against what it called unfair treatment of its lawmakers.
“From now on, we will not attend National Assembly sittings. We will protest and boycott instead,” said Gohar while speaking to reporters alongside other PTI members. In Islamabad.
He added that PTI’s parliamentary party met at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) House, heard instructions from the party founder, and endorsed them.
He accused authorities of stripping PTI legislators of their seats, disqualifying them and silencing their voices. “Even if we try to celebrate Independence Day, we are not allowed. Despite countless difficulties, we attended sessions to raise demands democratically, but we are not permitted to speak,” he said.
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Former speaker Asad Qaiser urged the federal government to support flood victims. “The K-P government is working for the flood-hit people. We will also appeal to our party founder to launch a fundraising call. We appeal to the United Nations to provide aid. It is the federal government’s duty as well,” he said.
K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reported severe devastation from heavy rains, particularly in Buner, Shangla, Swabi and Swat. “A flood surge of 12 to 14 feet destroyed homes. Our agencies rescued all people within 24 hours. So far, 490 people have lost their lives in the province,” he said.
He said compensation was being distributed, with Rs2 million given to families of the deceased, Rs1 million for completely destroyed homes, and partial payments to the injured. “This is only support – you cannot rebuild a house with Rs1 million. But never in history has relief work been carried out at such speed,” he added.
