PTI senior leader and former federal minister Fawad Chaudry has demanded the arrest of federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir for putting up banners against PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Gujranwala.
While addressing a press conference, Fawad Chaudhry wondered why federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir had not been arrested as yet, especially since he had admitted to putting up banners targeting the PTI in Gujranwala.
“Legal action should be taken against him,” he said, highlighting that the minister’s father had also launched a similar campaign against Fatima Ali Jinnah.
“I believe the Punjab government must act against Dastgir,” Fawad Chaudhry said.
Fawad Chaudhry also hit back at criticism that the party’s long march was moving slowly, saying it would proceed at its own pace, adding “we will also keep changing our plan to reach Islamabad to baffle the government.”
Read more: PTI changes schedule for Islamabad long march
کل خرم دستگیر نے خود مان لیا گوجرانوالہ میں گھٹیا بینرز خرم دستگیر لگوا رہے تھے، میں پنجاب حکومت سے مطالبہ کرتا ہوں اس مذہبی منافرت پر مبنی گھٹیا کمپین پر اسے گرفتار کیا جائے۔ یہ پہلا موقع نہیں ہے-@fawadchaudhry #حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/EvnxD5IiBc
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 2, 2022
Khurram Dastgir denies putting up banners
To clarify, before the long march reached Gujranwala, reports emerged that banners against former Prime Minister Imran Khan were put up on GT Road in Gujranwala. The banners contained slogans against Imran Khan calling him a “thief” due to the Toshakhana reference against him.
PML-N leader and Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir apparently admitted to putting up the banners against Imran Khan. While giving an interview to a private media channel, Khurram Dastgir said that “we” were putting up the banners.
“The banners calling Imran Khan a thief in Gujranwala were taken down by the Punjab police. We kept putting them up and they kept taking them down,” Khurram Dastgir said. Due to the remarks, PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry began criticizing Khurram Dastgir.
Read more: PML-N govt. behind anti-Imran Khan banners in Gujranwala?
On the other hand, Khurram Dastgir while reacting to the criticism, denied responsibility for putting up banners in Gujranwala targeting the PTI. He, however, asserted that he “stood by what was written on them”.
Khurram Dastgir stated that the Constitution allowed citizens to put up banners just like it allowed PTI chief Imran Khan to make all kinds of statements.