According to sources, several party-affiliated leaders and workers have been out of public view following the frustrated outcome of the so-called long march.
According to credible sources Abdul Salam Afridi PTI MPA from Mardan has gone underground, fabricating a story of alleged kidnap from his residence. Other key figures who have gone into hiding are several former and current office-bearers associated with the Insaf Students Federation (ISF).
According to sources, Aamir Marwat, the ISF president at the PSC University Campus, is also among those in hiding.
In addition, Amanullah, former chief organiser of ISF at the Agriculture University Peshawar, has also not appeared in public.
Abdul Basit, former general secretary of ISF at Islamia College PSC, is also among the leaders who have gone into hiding.
Similar reports have also emerged regarding Junaid Zada, former vice president of ISF at the Agriculture University Peshawar.
The name of Shafqatullah, who is associated with ISF, has also been included in the list of those in hiding.
Sources say that dozens more PTI-affiliated office-bearers and workers are also staying out of sight due to fears of arrest.
According to sources, some leaders are also avoiding their usual political and organisational contacts.
Furthermore, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial lawmaker Dr. Amjad Ali Khan staged an armed attack and high-stakes abduction drama at his residence to avoid participating in his party’s ongoing Long March.
The party and local sources claimed that an armed firing incident and claims of his abduction attempt at his residence in Swat were staged to avoid joining the party’s long march towards Islamabad, as the Islamabad High Court clearly signaled of constitutional action against lawmakers involved in creating anarchy in the federal capital.
Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials denied that law enforcement agencies had conducted a raid at the provincial lawmaker’s residence, while allegations circulated that the firing was arranged by people associated with him.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time for PTI, whose leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is attempting to mobilise supporters for a march demanding the release of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
It is a worth noting point that public is no more interested in street politics. There is also dearth of confidence in the senior leadership as the common workers fear arrests and imprisonment. They believe that the senior leadership only chant hollow slogans and disappear from the scene when faced with tougher situation.
