Islamabad: PTI claimed that party leader Faisal Vawda tried damaging party’s upcoming long march to Islamabad and distanced itself from his statement after ex-federal minister said protests would witness bloodshed. In conversation with a private television channel right after Vawda’s hard-hitting presser, PTI senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that party leader’s claims of bloodshed during march were “false”.

“PTI’s march will be peaceful,” Fawad said, voicing PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s statement that march would see no violence and he would not allow his workers to be arrested. “Frankly, I am surprised and confused at Faisal Vawda’s press conference.

We were unaware of his press conference,” senior PTI leader said. He added that he would call Vawda and inquire about his media talk. In a tweet, PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar said Vawda’s statement does not represent party policy and views, adding that a show-cause notice would be issued to him.

“President Sindh has been told on instructions of Chairman Imran Khan to issue show cause notice to Faisal for violating party policy,” Umar said.

PTI’s Sindh chapter President Ali Zaidi said Vawda tried to “damage” party’s long march as he cast aspersions behind motives of presser. “Interestingly all channels + PTV covered presser so it’s clear that #ImportedGovernment launched him. But he made no sense,” former federal minister said. Zaidi asked that when Khan has clearly issued instructions for all to remain peaceful, then what weight Vawda’s presser carried. PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari asked whether state broadcaster PTV was devolved to Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where Khan-led party is in power. “Is that why they just kindly aired Faisal Vadwa’s press conference? Will they show all of ours daily from now on? Or was this one special?” he wondered.

PTI leader Babar Awan said that strategy for long march would remain same as earlier stated by party Chairman. “Leadership, workers and people are united on a peaceful protest within framework of Constitution and law,” Awan said in a tweet. He said that several deaths will take place before and during long march as motive is to “divert attention” so that nation “would start seeing things in black as white”.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 27 2022

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