Raja denies authority to remove Mashal from Senate

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja has said he had no authority to remove Mashal Yousafzai from the Senate.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja has said he had no authority to remove Mashal Yousafzai from the Senate.

He said he chose to overlook the matter to prevent divisions within the party.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Raja said Mashal Yousafzai was not acting alone and had a group supporting her.

He said the facts would eventually come before everyone. He added that he would not further fuel an issue that had already been given unnecessary attention in the past.

Raja also said he did not know who had made Mashal Yousafzai a senator.

Speaking to journalists at the Adiala Jail factory checkpoint in Rawalpindi, Raja said that allegations should be backed by evidence. He said false allegations remained false regardless of who made them.

He said he had been practising law and continued to do so. He described some of the statements made against him as completely baseless.

Raja said such allegations would have to be answered. He added that the party would take action over the matter.

Comments on political developments

Speaking about the political situation, Raja said September 27 was not a distant date. He said political activity was continuing on a daily basis.

He said time passes quickly and described September 27 as an important date.

Raja also said that a revolution could not be brought about by a single political party. He said it required the participation of the entire nation.

On negotiations with the government, he said there was currently no formal offer from the government.

However, Raja said PTI had not rejected negotiations on principle at any level.

He described reports of an alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party as premature. He said two parties could have similar positions on a particular issue without forming an alliance.

PTI denies link with terrorism

Raja strongly rejected any alleged connection between PTI and terrorism.

He said PTI had never had any association with terrorism. Referring to the person killed in Rawalpindi, he said the party did not know which group the man belonged to or what activities he had been involved in.

Raja described PTI as a peaceful political party. He said the party opposed terrorism and had never been part of any violent activity.

He maintained that PTI was continuing its political struggle within the framework of the Constitution and the law.