LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday warned the coalition government and its “handlers” against massive street protests, saying that if the rulers and their handlers think they could delay the elections post federal budget, warning that his party and the nation would hold street agitation against this strategy.
“If the rulers defy the Supreme Court’s orders of holding elections on May 14 and violate the Constitution, there would be lawlessness in the country. The PTI would resort to street agitations until the Constitution and the rule of law were restored,” said the former prime minister while addressing a party rally held here on Saturday in connection with International Workers’ Day and also to express solidarity with the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
لاہور، پشاور اور راولپنڈی میں چئیر مین عمران خان کی کال پر نکالی گئی عظیم الشان مزدور ریلی کے مناظر۔
Vc: @Munazza__Shaikh#مزدور_ریلی_کپتان_کےسنگ pic.twitter.com/7zj1L8SvEs— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 1, 2023
He led the rally from Liberty Chowk to Nasir Bagh and many PTI workers and supporters accompanied him.
Khan said that they stand with the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Constitution, adding that till now they have held peaceful public gatherings and political rallies and maintained that the next week would be decisive.
He said on Tuesday, they would hold talks with the rulers with a one-point agenda: if they agree to dissolve the assemblies before May 14 then the PTI would be willing for ‘same day elections’ in the country.
Imran Khan has said that they are ready for simultaneous elections if the government dissolves assemblies tomorrow.
“The government should confirm the dissolution of assemblies before May 14 in the next round of talks. We are ready for elections on the same day if assemblies dissolve tomorrow,” he said.
Imran Khan strongly criticized the PDM parties and said that they will only hold polls after seeing an opportunity to get victorious and removing Imran Khan from their path. “They want to jail Imran Khan or kill him. They attacked Pervaiz Elahi’s home like dacoits after they attacked my home and arrested PTI workers.”
He said, “Ali Amin Gandapur is being shifted to different jails and my security officer Iftikhar Ghumman was also arrested. They are arresting PTI workers to weaken our political party.”
The PTI chief announced that they will take to the streets if anyone tries to break the Constitution and go against the Supreme Court (SC). “We will not be silent if anyone goes against the Constitution.”
Khan vowed that PTI will stand with the Constitution if the rulers try to run away from elections and violate the constitution. “We have always staged peaceful protests due to the deteriorated economic situation. If they break the Constitution then there would the law of jungle in Pakistan.”
“This country is heading towards destruction and unemployment is rising day by day. If they reject the Supreme Court’s decision then the nation will come out of their homes with me.”
Imran Khan said that PTI is holding the rally to show solidarity with the labourers and for the rule of law. “Everything will be clearly seen in the next week whether there is the rule of law in this country or not. PTI will stand with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).”
