Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has strongly denied claims that a supporter of the party was responsible for hoisting the American flag during a recent rally in Swabi. Speaking to a private TV channel, Marwat clarified that the individual who raised the flag was not a PTI worker, but someone from another political party, who was arrested by police shortly after the incident. The incident occurred during a high-profile PTI rally in Swabi, organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. As the rally began, a person in the crowd unexpectedly unfurled the American flag, an act that startled both PTI workers and leadership present at the event. The police immediately took the individual into custody for questioning, and the person was later transferred to the local police station for further investigation. Marwat emphasized that the PTI leadership, including Chief Minister Gandapur, was taken aback by the incident, and swiftly distanced the party from the act.

"This person was not a part of PTI," Marwat stated, adding that the individual who raised the flag had no connection to the party and was apprehended by police on-site. The police have since launched an investigation to determine the motives behind the act and whether there was any political agenda linked to the display of the American flag. Authorities have yet to reveal whether the flag incident was the result of an organized political effort or a spontaneous act by an individual. The rally, which was attended by prominent PTI figures such as Gandapur and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, focused on the political situation in the country and PTI's demand for the release of its leader, Imran Khan. Qaiser, addressing the gathering, reaffirmed PTI’s commitment to securing the rights of the people and called for the restoration of trade ties with Afghanistan, along with the return of the party’s mandate.

In addition to addressing the flag incident, Marwat also spoke out against ongoing accusations targeting Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. He dismissed these allegations as attempts to weaken PTI, claiming that Gandapur had organized the rally at his own personal expense. "These accusations are part of a broader effort to undermine PTI’s leadership," Marwat said, defending Gandapur’s role in the rally. The Swabi rally, which drew a large crowd of supporters, saw speakers discussing a range of issues, including political freedoms and economic challenges. Despite the disruption caused by the flag incident, PTI leaders maintained a strong stance on their political demands, particularly the call for the restoration of rights and the release of Imran Khan, the party’s leader and former Prime Minister. As investigations continue into the American flag incident, it remains to be seen whether it will have any lasting political implications for PTI or its ongoing campaigns.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan