PTI vows not to let newly elected National Assembly function 'until provision of due rights'

• Let not anybody sit with peace until release of Imran Khan: Akbar.
• PTI leader says “trade of consciences” held at the Sindh House.
• Some were threatened and some were shown their videos, MNA adds.

Coming down hard on the ruling alliance, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) lawmaker Junaid Akbar Friday warned that they would not let the National Assembly function until provision of their due rights.

The PTI leader made the remarks during his fiery speech at the second session of the newly elected lower house of parliament.

Taking the floor, Akbar said: “We do not recognise this assembly. We will neither legislate nor allow it [in the House].

The PTI claimed that its mandate was stolen during the February 8 general elections. The Imran Khan-founded party termed the polls “rigged” and accused the caretaker government of denying a level playing field in the run-up to elections.

Firing a fresh salvo at the PPP, the PTI leader said: “A bazar [of horse-trading] was set up at the Sindh House and consciences [of lawmakers] were bought.”

“Some were threatened, some were shown their videos.”

Moving onto alleged discrimination with the PTI, the lawmaker said that his party was stripped of its electoral symbol ‘bat’ in the garb of May 9 mayhem.

The May 9 riots were triggered almost across the country after the deposed prime minister's arrest in the £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations.

During the protests, the miscreants targeted the civil and military installations including — Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 "Black Day" and decided to try the miscreants under the Army Act.

The PTI-backed independent candidates were given inappropriate election symbols by the ECP, he added.

Slamming the establishment, he said two assassination attempts were made on the life of the PTI founder.

Some 34 PTI supporters were killed on May 9 and FIRs were also lodged against the leadership of Khan-founded party, he added.

“Sedition cases were registered against me and my friends.”

Narrating his ordeal in jail, he said: “When I was in jail, Na Maloom Afraad [unknown people] used to make phone calls [to police officials] and it was directed that I was not provided with the bed.”

He added: “My fault was that I remained firm with the PTI founder.”

The PTI leader also said that there was no Constitution or law in the country.

Talking about the alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, the PTI leader said that those who suffered defeat as per Form 45s were sitting in the House.

Drawing the battle in the lower house of parliament, Akbar announced: “We did not come here for reconciliation.”

“Our votes did not ask us to legislate in the House.”

It was out of the question that they would let anybody sit with peace until the release of their incarcerated leader, the PTI leader told the parliamentarians.

He also vowed to hold the ruling alliance accountable for "violating" the constitution and harming the country.

The PTI urged the government and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to launch a fresh inquiry to ascertain the beneficiary of the May 9 violence.