In Parliament, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and lawyer Gohar Ali Khan maintained their sit-in that began after Friday prayers. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday ended its sit-in in front of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) House, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur leaving the protest site.
Adjacent roads were reopened to traffic after the demonstration concluded. The sit-in of PTI members of the National Assembly and senators in the Parliament lodges also ended.
However, the sit-in by opposition MNAs in Parliament continues, with National Assembly (NA) Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Nasir Abbas, former NA President Asad Qaiser and PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja still present at the venue.
Read: Opposition sit-in enters third day over Imran Khan’s medical care
Speaking to the media, PTI Chairman Advocate Gohar Ali Khan said Achakzai would announce the end of the sit-in. “We are waiting for the founder’s medical report,” he said, adding that everything in the report will be presented publicly.
The sit-in is linked to concerns over the health of former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. On Sunday, a team of five medical specialists conducted a detailed medical examination at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. No PTI leader was present despite the government’s offer to allow them to witness the check-up.
Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig said a team of specialists visited the jail with medical equipment, medicines and other supplies to conduct Imran’s eye examination. The examination was carried out under the supervision of a two-member medical board, he said.
The demonstration by opposition lawmakers began on Friday and continued despite government assurances. Monday was the fourth day that leaders staged sit-ins in front of Parliament House and KP House, demanding that Imran receive urgent medical treatment for his eye condition.
Lawmakers, led by Achakzai and Abbas, have vowed that the sit-in will not end until Imran is transferred to specialized care. Protesters have cited reports that his vision in his right eye has deteriorated significantly and have demanded treatment in the presence of his family and personal doctors.
Read more: PTI protesters block KP roads over IK’s health
Meanwhile, the supply of essential commodities has been disrupted as PTI workers blocked major roads linking KP with Punjab for the past four days. This has raised concerns about shortages as Ramadan approaches.
The Peshawar highway remained closed for the third day since the Mardan Rashakai junction, while the highway in Swabi was also closed due to protests, a highway police spokesperson said. However, the Peshawar-Charsadda Expressway remained open and traffic was allowed from Chach and Ghazi junctions.
The sit-ins have also focused on key routes, including GT Road at Attock Bridge, Khushalgarh at Kohat and roads in Dera Ismail Khan leading to Punjab. The blockades have effectively cut off KP from Punjab, a major source of goods such as flour, rice and pulses.
