Long march to install army chief of Imran’s choice, not for a revolution: Nawaz Sharif

LONDON, Oct 26 (SABAH): Former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has said that Imran Khan’s much-hyped long march to Islamabad was not for a revolution, but to install an army chief of his own choice.

In a statement issued on Twitter on Wednesday, the former prime minister gave his reaction after the long march was announced by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, saying that the people have seen his ‘revolution’ during his four-year rule. “Imran Khan’s long march is not for any revolution but to install an army chief of his own choice.”

Nawaz Sharif said that Imran Khan, who calls others thieves, has proven himself to be the biggest thief in the country’s history with irrefutable evidence of foreign funding, Toshakhana and robbery worth Rs50 billion.

Political tension is growing in the country as Islamabad has been put on high alert after Imran Khan on Tuesday announced holding the much-awaited long march on Friday, demanding the government call fresh general elections.

The government has also started preparations to deploy thousands of security personnel to block Imran’s supporters from entering the capital.

According to officials, the Interior Ministry has already decided to deploy around 30,000 police, rangers, and paramilitary troops in Islamabad and not allow protesters to enter the red-zone area near the parliament building.

President’s House, Prime Minister’s House, ministers’ offices, parliament, and other important buildings, including foreign embassies, are located in the Red-Zone area.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court showed restrained from granting the federal government’s request to prevent Imran Khan from holding the PTI’s upcoming long march.

A five-judge larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the case. Commenting on the matter, the CJP said that the court “does not want to use its pen as a stick”.

PTI chief’s long march announcement comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified him for failing to disclose gifts and proceeds of their alleged sale he received while serving as prime minister.

The Islamabad High Court, however, said he is not barred from contesting elections in the future. Earlier this month, he won six of the seven National Assembly seats in a by-election he said was a referendum on his popularity.