KAMOKE: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan Monday asked ‘those in power’ to stand with the nation against corrupt coterie as he resumed PTI’s long march to Islamabad from Kamoke.
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”.
“Those in power must consider who the people they are standing with,” he said and asserted that the people of Pakistan were voting for his party in successive by-polls, 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”, and did not “run to London” when there was a case against him, referring to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.
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.
Referring to the CEC, Imran said that he will take him to 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”.
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”.
‘Institutions strong when people support them’
Addressing the courts, Imran said that the entire nation was looking to them for justice. He thanked the chief justice of Pakistan for hearing Azam Swati and Shahbaz Gill’s pleas regarding the physical torture against them.
“The country will be strong when the institutions are strong, and institutions are only strong when then nation stands with them,” he said, reiterating that the institutions would lose all power if the people opposed them.
He further stated that now was the time for the people to decide, adding that justice would free the people.
Imran urged his supporters to follow him to Islamabad however possible, in any vehicle.
“Come on foot if you must. This is the war for freedom, and everyone must make sacrifices,” he said, analogising the sacrifices to those made by migrants during the India-Pakistan partition movement for freedom from colonisation.
He maintained that the nation would not be prosperous until there was justice, and equated justice to freedom.
Imran then asked the attendees at the march to take an oath in support of the struggle for Haqeeqi Azadi. The oath was administered by Faisal Javed who encouraged the crowds to be so loud that they were “heard in London”.
The crowd was asked to raise their hands and vow to obey the Constitution and protect the self-sufficiency and freedom of Pakistan and to not bow before anyone but the Almighty.
“We will struggle with Imran Khan till the end for the Jihad of Haqeeqi Azadi, and be prepared for any sacrifice,” Faisal read ahead while PTI supporters followed suit.
‘Revolution through ballot or bloodshed’
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 today.
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 today under the leadership of Imran Khan. He added that convoys of PTI supporters from Karachi will leave for Islamabad via Hyderabad and Sukkur today, 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”.
Hospitals on high alert
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.
Sources further stated that the heads of all departments are prevented from going out of the city and that all staff members, including medical personnel, were ordered to be diligent.
