PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Wednesday said his party has no sympathy for terrorists and called for an end to what he described as false narratives being spread in this regard.
“Our people have been martyred fighting terrorism. We have no sympathy for terrorists, and such false narratives must stop immediately,” he said at a press conference alongside Deputy Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai at the Peshawar Press Club.
The PTI leader condemned the spread of misinformation on social media, emphasizing that his party does not endorse accounts promoting hatred or false information.
Sheikh Waqas announced that PTI’s Information Department would hold weekly press conferences in all four provinces. “There will be one press conference per week in each province,” he added.
Highlighting ongoing concerns about PTI founder Imran Khan, he said nearly 50 days have passed since their last meeting with him. “Party workers staged an overnight sit-in just to meet him. Elderly women were even doused with water during the protest,” he alleged.
He accused the Punjab government of showing no concern for public rights, stressing that PTI is seeking its legal rights under the constitution.
“We have no information about whether our leader has access to doctors. Even the six lawyers appointed by the high court are not being allowed to meet him,” he said.
Sheikh Waqas also criticized authorities after accusing them of mistreating the party workers. “On Tuesday, young people went only to meet their leader, yet they were mistreated. Our women were taken into custody and should be released immediately. The government should apologize to the PTI’s founder and his family.”
He alleged that judicial decisions are being undermined and appeals are not being heard. “Repeated court visits have yielded no justice. The chief justice should instruct lower courts to ensure PTI receives its due rights,” he urged.
Sheikh Waqas criticized the Sindh government over the Gul Plaza fire tragedy. “During the incident, timely rescue operations were deliberately delayed. The Karachi tragedy is the responsibility of PPP’s 18-year rule. We stand with the victims,” he said.
He said the federal government had shortcomings, stating, “Bilawal Bhutto summoned all ambassadors to showcase his performance, yet accountability remains absent. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the government itself has been affected by terrorism, yet PTI continues its fight against it.”
Sheikh Waqas raised concerns over forensic investigations. “The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government should investigate the May 9 forensic report. I am concerned about how our chief minister can rely on an ASI’s report. Even senior officials were not asked to provide input, and the Punjab forensic lab appears biased. The Punjab forensic report seems part of a larger conspiracy,” he said.
Shaukat Yousafzai criticized the federal and provincial governments for economic mismanagement. “The federal government lacks authority for negotiations. PTI’s founder has been imprisoned while talks are being suggested. Human rights violations are rampant, and scandals over wheat and sugar continue. The country cannot function under this leadership,” he said.
He announced a peaceful PTI protest on February 8, urging the federal government to release the party’s founder. “We are considering shutdowns and wheel-jam strikes,” he added.
