PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Friday strongly condemned the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf KP president and member of the National Assembly Junaid Akbar Khan and other parliamentarians in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He warned that if the detained lawmakers were not released immediately, he would personally travel to Gilgit-Baltistan to question the ‘puppet’ administration and those involved in engineering political outcome ahead of the forthcoming elections over the mistreatment of elected representatives.
The chief minister, in a statement issued from his office,observed that political exclusion, coercive measures and denial of level playing field undermined democratic institutions and weakened public confidence in the electoralprocess.
He stressed that sustainable political stability could only be achieved through inclusive democratic engagement, respect for political pluralism and adherence to the rule of law.
Mr Afridi stated that those who were supposed to protect the public mandate were the very ones whorepeatedlyrobbedPakistanis of their mandate, while at the same time clarified that attempts to marginalise political stakeholders orrestrict theirparticipation in the democratic process contributed to polarisation and deepen divisions within society.
‘The protection of the public mandate is fundamental to any democratic system,’ the statement quoted the chief minister as saying. He expressed disappointment over the lack of response tohis attempts to establish contact with the Gilgit-Baltistan administration regarding the matter, describing constructive political engagement and intergovernmental communication as essential elements of democratic governance.
While talking about the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, the chief minister said that the region was known for its dignified, politically aware and hospitable population.
He made it clear that GilgitBaltistan would not be allowed to become a no-go area, adding that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would avenge this disrespect towards their guests through the power of their vote in the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, in Swabi, the senior PTI leader and secretary general of Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan, Asad Qaiser, has also condemned the arrest of PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Junaid Akbar and others duringthe election campaign in GilgitBaltistan A press release issued on Friday said that MNAs Saleem-urRehman, Syed Mehboob Shah, Dr Amjad Ali Khan and Naeem Khan were arrested during the election campaign in GilgitBaltistan.
He said the government had become so fearful of PTPs popularity that first it deprived the party of its electoral symbol in Gilgit-Baltistan and it was resorting to undemocratic tactics.
Asad Qaiser said the government was setting a worst example of political revenge by resorting to arrests and other tactics to keep PTI leadership and workers away from the election campaign.
He said these actions were not only against democratic norms but also a violation of citizens’ fundamental right to vote.
The people of Gilgit-Baltistan, he added, would reject political victimisation, fascism and repression through the power of the ballot.