Ex-PM Imran Khan claims to see a revolution going on for six months in the country
KAMOKE, Oct 31 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan asked ‘those in power’ to stand with the nation as he resumed PTI’s long march to Islamabad from Kamoke on Monday.
Addressing the crowds on the fourth day of the PTI’s Haqeeqi Azadi march, while commenting on the rumours of talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Imran said that he has a message for those who had “given him [Shehbaz] permission to be in office”.
In his message, he asked “those in power” to observe who the people are standing with while referring to his recent electoral victory in NA-45 (Kurram)
“The establishment never stands against the nation because the populace and the armed forces strengthen the country together,” he said, urging the powers-that-be to not support thieves.
The PTI chief also clarified that he had criticised the army because he is “a Pakistani who lives in and would die in Pakistan”.
On the occasion, the ousted premier said that he will file a defamation suit of Rs10 billion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Sikander Raja for questioning his integrity. He maintained that he would file a suit against the CEC for raising doubt about his integrity and honesty in the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decisions in prohibited funding and Toshakhana cases.
“Whenever courts against me prove that I have done an illegal thing, I will not wait for the court’s decision to be issued and will back out on my own,” he added.
Referring to the CEC, Imran said that he will take him to the court and “make you pay so that in the future you do not destroy anyone’s reputation on someone else’s instructions”.
He furthered that the money he would win in the defamation suit against Raja would go towards treatment for patients at Shaukat Khanam hospitals across the country and for students’ education at the Namal University and Al Qadir University.
He claimed that the electoral watchdog’s decisions against him in the Toshakhana and prohibited funding references were given on the directions of the imported government.
Imran further alleged that the premier polished the boots of those who were powerful and oppressed those who were weak.
Earlier, Imran highlighted that he had witnessed a “revolution” taking over the country, as he continued his long march for the fourth day. Taking to his official Twitter handle in the early hours of the day, the deposed premier questioned if the “revolution” which had been going on for “six months” would be a “soft one through the ballot box or a destructive one through bloodshed”.
His remarks came as the party and its supporters continued walking towards the federal capital from Kamoke, demanding immediate elections. According to the PTI, since the vote of no-confidence against him, Imran has won 29 out of 37 seats in by-elections “which is more than a 3/4 majority”.
“Awaam (populace) has totally rejected the regime change operation!” the former ruling party declared after Imran won the National Assembly constituency NA-45 Kurram on Sunday, with a significant margin against his rival, JUI-F’s Jamil Khan, who was backed by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
During its third day, the PTI’s Haqeeqi Azadi march was called off for one day after a reporter died in a container accident near Sadhoke. Party leader Asad Umar had announced that the march will resume from Kamoke from Monday.
The march began its fourth day after Imran Khan arrived atop the container. At the outset of the day, the party leaders partook in prayers for deceased reporter Sadaf Naeem. PTI member Fawad Chaudhry stated that the march would reach Gujranwala on the same day under the leadership of Imran Khan. He added that convoys of PTI supporters from Karachi will leave for Islamabad via Hyderabad and Sukkur, while the convoy from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will leave through Bada.
“All these convoys will reach Islamabad. This gathering of hundreds of thousands of people wants its democratic rights,” he said. According to PTI leader Musarrat Cheema, the fourth day will begin at Kamoke and the long march “will reach Gujranwala via Eminabad and end the day at Gujranwala (Chanda Fort) area”.
In Islamabad, a high alert has been issued in federal hospitals due to the possibility of any unfortunate incident during the long march as the PTI and its supporters march towards the federal capital. Heads of all departments have been prevented from going out of the city and that all staff members, including medical personnel, were ordered to be diligent.