Salman Akram Raja Denies PTI Connection to Mall Road Terrorist Incident
RAWALPINDI: Speaking to the media outside Adiala Road, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja formally distanced the party from the terrorist involved in the recent Mall Road incident.
PTI has nothing to do with any kind of terrorism, Salman Akram Raja said, adding that PTI was peaceful and the person acted independently or on behalf of any group or organization. He also suggested that he would be taking “very serious steps” against Mashal Yousafzai. I have not heard what Mashal Yousafzai said, my life is an open book and if anyone has any concerns they should just speak to me,” said Raja. He also said the baseless allegations will only come back to haunt those who make them, adding that all false claims will end up failing and that someone must have tangible evidence to make a claim.
Raja told the media he had been directed by the party’s founding chairman to get Mashal Yousafzai expelled from the party and that the final verdict on expulsion will be taken by the core committee and parliamentary party. He added that PTI had held the biggest public gathering in Lahore on August 5, and will be taking “strict notice” of those who make “any statement”, adding that he did not know what was going to happen next. On questions of political alliance, Raja said that no offers or talks have been made on the formation of a coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and that while views on particular matters in the country do sometimes converge, there is no formal alliance.