SWAT/SWABI: The Swat police on Friday stopped the PTI leaders from taking part in a workers’ convention, which was going to be held in Qambar, a suburb of Mingora.

The convention was organised in the guest house of the party’s district general secretary Adalat Khan. However, a heavy police contingent reached there and took control of the guest house in the morning, and did not allow the PTI workers to gather there.

Consequently, the convention could not take place.

Meanwhile, PTI’s Matta tehsil senior vice-president and Chupriyal village council chairman Imran Khan was re-arrested soon after his release from Swat jail. He was arrested in an FIR lodged against PTI leaders and workers for holding a convention in Khwazakhela a few days ago.

Party’s Swabi chapter plans convention today

The police re-arrested him when he was released on bail on Friday in another FIR registered against him by Lower Dir police.

Meanwhile, despite heavy odds, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s leadership has decided to hold a workers’ convention in Swabi on Saturday (today).

When contacted, PTI leaders told Dawn on condition of anonymity on Friday that they had earlier planned to hold the convention in Eidgah or sports stadium in Salim Khan village, but the district administration did not allow them over unknown reasons. They added the party leadership was forced to hold the much-awaited gathering in the hujra (common guest house) of Ijaz Khan in Aurangabad village.

The PTI leaders said they had submitted three applications to the district administration for permitting them to hold the public meeting as per the court orders, but they were not allowed.

After the May 9 mayhem and arrest of its chairman Imran Khan, which changed the landscape of PTI politics, it will be the first gathering of the party in Swabi. The party’s leadership has repeatedly complained it was being targeted by the law enforcement agencies and was not allowed to run the campaign for coming elections.

PTI senior vice-president Sher Afzal Marwat Advocate will be the chief guest at the convention.

“I met Sher Afzal Marwat in Islamabad and he assured me of attending the convention,” said a local leader on condition of anonymity.

About the venue, he said it was decided by former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser. “We were looking for a better venue as Ijaz Khan’s hujra may not easily accommodate all the participants,” said another leader.

“We will ensure the maximum participation of workers in the gathering,” a former lawmaker said.

When contacted, Abdul Karim, former adviser to the chief minister on industry, said the convention was very important considering the preparations for the coming elections. “The leaders and workers are determined to hold the gathering. If elections are held in a free and fair manner, believe me we will emerge victorious,” he claimed.

The organisers said all arrangements for the workers’ convention had been completed.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2023