PTI workers denounce party's decision to postpone Nov. 2 'lockdown'

Rawalpindi [Pakistan], Nov. 2 (ANI): Expressing disappointment over the postponement of the November 2 "lockdown" of Islamabad, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers have said that their efforts have been wiped out by the party high command. The local party leadership returned to their homes soon after the decision was made to avoid questions from the workers and supporters about the protest morphing into a thanksgiving event or youm-e-tashakar, reports the Dawn. Rawalpindi district's five MPAs and PTI office bearers confined themselves to their homes and switched off their mobile phones. PTI worker and Dhoke Hasu resident, Mohammad Abbas said, "After over a week of drama, the party wasted the time and efforts of active workers in the garrison city and suddenly changed the plan." Asserting that the party had disappointed its workers with its decision, Abbas said that next time a call with a clear vision for the future should be given by the party leadership. Earlier on Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had asked the PTI to hold its planned protest at the 'Democracy Park and Speech Corner', located near Parade Ground in Shakarparian and ordered party chief Imran Khan to appear before it. The order came after the PTI chief asked the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the arrests of his party workers. Maintaining that if asking for justice from the courts regarding a government crackdown on his party workers is tantamount to pressurising the judiciary, Khan yesterday asked, "Is asking for justice pressurising the courts?" The PTI chief asked as to what crime they have committed that his party workers are being arrested. He also expressed his ire over the decision of the authorities to put him under house arrest. (ANI)