PTI denounces crackdown on ‘nationwide protest’

ISLAMABAD: A day after its members protested in different parts of the country, the PTI spo­kesperson on Saturday denou­n­ced the government for an alle­ged crackdown on the ‘nationwide protests’ and demanded the release of a few workers detained by the authorities. In a statement, PTI Inform­at­­ion Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram claimed a large number of PTI supporters took to the streets on Friday despite the hurdles created by the government. He alleged pre-dawn raids, fabricated cases, and heavy police deployment to stop the protesters, who “rejected the government and took to the streets in large numbers”. He claimed the PTI protest proved “public power” could not be crushed by using force while condemning the arrests of protesters and demanding their immediate, unconditional release. He dismissed the government’s portrayal of family meetings with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi as “confidence-building measures,” calling it “cynical theatre”. He pointed out that these were the basic constitutional rights, not favours, saying the government continued to subject the nation’s leader to prolonged solitary confinement and medical neglect. The PTI managed to stage rallies in almost all major cities, except for Karachi. Spokesperson backs NA opposition leader’s call for budget boycott In his statement, the PTI spo­kesperson expressed full support for National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achak­zai’s call for a budget boycott un­­less Imran Khan received treatment and his visitation rights were restored. A day earlier, Mr Achakzai, who heads the PTI-led opposition alliance, warned they would boycott the budget session if their demands were not met. The PTI leader also criticised the government over fuel prices. He claimed that after extracting over Rs4.3 trillion through levies, the government now exp­ec­ted applause for “returning crumbs”. Mr Akram stated that PTI would continue its struggle with “full intensity” until the stolen mandate was restored, all politic