Our planning was not right for the first march but this time the party will come prepared: Imran Khan

PESHAWAR, June 01 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said the party would announce its next march after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the plea seeking clarity on whether the party can hold public gatherings.

Addressing social media workers in Peshawar, former prime minister Imran Khan said that the party wants protection from the court and its case is pending. “I ask the Supreme Court if we have the fundamental right to protest,” said Khan. Imran Khan said that he will announce the new dates for the long march after the top court’s verdict. “Our planning was not right for the first march but this time the party will come prepared.”

Talking about the march, the former premier said: “The media coverage of the whole march was carried out under difficult circumstances and people were shelled brutally,” adding that “shells that are thrown at the terrorists were thrown at the protesters.”

He said that the country is going through a crucial time. “I am fighting this war for the future generations. If we fail, your children will have to fight this war.”

Imran Khan said that the courts are formed to give protection to the weak, adding they will be better prepared this time while going to Islamabad and will not repeat ‘mistakes’.

Equating the struggle against the present government as jihad, he said that the decisive moment had arrived for the nation. “The government is trying to intimidate people… the shells that were used [against protesters] in Islamabad were the same that were used against the terrorists,” he added.

The PTI chairman said certain members of the incumbent government had been committing crimes for the past 30 years but they were still imposed upon the nation. “Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah had killed 14 people in broad daylight in Model Town… these people should have been in prison,” he said and added that if the nation defeats the “looters and murderers”, then Pakistan will rise.

Imran Khan further said that the Almighty does not allow anyone to remain ‘neutral’.

He highlighted the way the federal and Punjab governments had responded to the PTI’s recent Azadi March on May 25 by “firing [tear gas] shells and wrongfully using Punjab police” and said this was why the party wanted a ruling from the SC. “As soon as their decision comes, I will announce [the date for the next march] and we will leave [for the capital.”