BAJAUR: The district administration has refused to permit local chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf (PTI) to hold workers convention owing to imposition of Section 144 in Bajaur tribal district.

Sources said that PTI leader and former provincial minister Anwarzeb Khan requested submitted an application to the deputy commissioner office to seek permission for holding of workers convention of the party on October 7 and 8 at a public place in Khar.

However, the deputy commissioner rejected the request of PTI leader, saying Section 144 was imposed and all kinds of political gatherings were banned in the district. The district administration has also issued an order in this regard.

The local leaders of PTI have termed the act of administration biased. In a post on social media, Sikandarzeb Khan, vice president of PTI local chapter and elder son of Anwarzeb Khan, has described the decision ‘totally unjustified and a discrimination against PTI’.

He said that a new application for holding the convention would be resubmitted soon after consultation of senior party leaders.

Meanwhile, PTI workers pledged to stand by party chief Imran Khan regardless of any consequences.

The PTI workers made the pldge at a function to mark the 71th birthday of Imran Khan. Besides workers and local leaders including PTI former district president Dr Khalilur Rehman attended the event held in Mamond tehsil.

According to a statement, PTI workers said Imran Khan was the most popular leader of the country. They said that it was the good luck of Pakistan and its citizens to have a leader like Imran Khan.

They said that Imran Khan spent his life, energy and personal resources for the well-being of people and promotion of justice in the country.

The statement added that the participants of the ceremony reiterated their commitment of standing by PTI and its chairman Imran Khan till their last breath of life.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2023