ISLAMABAD: Senior politician Fawad Chaudhry has raised concerns about the struggles faced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists, criticizing party leaders for remaining distant from the public.
Speaking outside an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where he and Azam Swati appeared regarding five cases from May 9, Chaudhry expressed frustration with the current party dynamics. The court extended their interim bail in these cases.
“We’ve appeared before the anti-terrorism court for the 517th time. Does that mean we are terrorists? If so, why do the people of Pakistan vote for us?” he questioned.
Chaudhry noted that while activists face hardships, PTI leaders stay out of sight. “Our activists are suffering, but leaders remain hidden,” he remarked, adding that Salman Akram Raja acts like a “1970s don,” seemingly insulated from the arrests affecting supporters.
He also lamented the plight of PTI supporters, saying, “They are languishing in jails while leaders enjoy their comforts. My entire family is on the exit control list, yet these leaders seem indifferent, without any strategy to free PTI’s founding member from jail.”
Chaudhry urged senior figures, including Bushra Bibi and Aleema Khan, to step into politics and help develop strategies for the party’s future and to secure the release of the party’s founder.
In a separate interview, Sher Afzal Marwat suggested that leadership of PTI’s upcoming protests should go to someone other than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Speaking on a private TV channel, Marwat praised Gandapur but emphasized the need for new protest leadership to avoid giving the opposition an opportunity to criticize.
Marwat pointed out that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and others have accused KP’s administration of attacking the federal government and misusing public funds. He warned that Gandapur’s role in protests could prompt the federal government to impose governor’s rule in the province, further weakening the provincial government.
“Instead of relying solely on Ali Amin, we need a broader leadership approach. Gandapur’s support is valuable, but we need a strategic plan,” Marwat concluded.
