Sohail Afridi and Junaid Akbar Turned Themselves In Voluntarily, States Ikhtiar Wali; Federal Takeover Was a Foolish Blunder, Asserts PTI’s Shaukat Yousafzai
PESHAWAR: The tension escalated further when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Coordinator Ikhtiar Wali in a TV political debate with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Leader Shaukat Yousafzai on a private news channel over the recent political turmoil and the declaration of Governors Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
On the program PML-N chief Ikhtiar Wali said there was no way the former chief minister Sohail Afridi and leader Junaid Akbar were forcibly apprehended as described, but rather they had handed themselves over to authorities. Wali also alleged that there was initial cooperation by the senior national figures of the PTI, such as Barrister Gohar, Salman Akram Raja and Asad Qaiser, regarding the measures in the National Action Plan but that Sohail Afridi had objected to the move.
The highlights of the political debate and leadership remarks.
PTI’s Stance on Governor’s Rule: PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai strongly lashed out at the imposition of Governor’s Rule as a “foolish blunder” by the center, in response to the federal government’s actions. He again said that PTI has always been with the institutions of the state against terrorism and has condemned terror activities such as the May 9 riots.
On Resignations from Assemblies: Yousafzai cleared up doutes and rumours surrounding parliamentary strategies by affirming that the resignation from provincial and national assemblies is not on the agenda now, but opposition will continue its political and legal struggle from within the assembly. An opposition meeting is planned to consider what to do next,” he added.
In response, Wali stated that NAB’s offices, opened by the PTI after the PTI’s allegations against the government, were being reopened and were following the law, while Yousafzai insisted that Sohail Afridi was arrested directly from the Chief Minister’s house despite their readiness to negotiate.