Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that his party’s planned long march towards Islamabad would begin on any day between May 25 and 29.
Addressing a public gathering in Multan on Friday, Imran said that he has summoned a session of PTI’s core committee in Peshawar on Sunday, where a final decision on the date for his long march to Islamabad will be decided.
He reiterated his demand from the present government to immediately dissolve the assemblies and announce the date of fresh elections.
He said that his party wants elections’ date and dissolution of assemblies at the earliest.
He thanked the people of Multan for warmly welcoming him. He said that a revolution cannot be successful without the participation of youth and women, adding that a revolution is coming in the country.
The corrupt and coward rulers have spread fear among the nationals and bowed their heads before the United States, he said.
He slammed the political rivals and said that they tried their best to get NRO from the PTI government through long march, blackmailing, personal attacks and abusive remarks. Khan said that his political rivals just wanted to see their corruption cases pardoned.
The former prime minister said that he would not be running a political campaign against them now if he had agreed to give NRO to the corrupt politicians.
He said that Shehbaz Sharif should be penalised for giving a false guarantee regarding Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan. They hatched a conspiracy against the PTI government with others, including Asif Ali Zardari and Fazlur Rehman, he slammed.
He criticised that an under-secretary of the US had threatened the Pakistani envoy to remove Imran Khan if Pakistan wants to be pardoned. “Pakistan does not need a pardon from anyone as it is an independent nation.”
He said that the nation has foiled the ‘conspiracy’ and the time has arrived to end the politics of the ruling families.
“These worshippers of money will never go against the US but Pakistanis will never accept the rule of the United States and its slaves here.”
He said he could not understand the reason behind Sharif family’s rage against him. “All the corruption cases, except the one by FIA, against Shehbaz Sharif were filed in their own reigns,” he added.
The PTI chief called upon people to focus on two main demands when they reach Islamabad. “First is the dissolution of assemblies, and the second is the immediate announcement of elections.”
Berating PM Shehbaz, Khan said that the coalition government is so weak that it is calling for a meeting of the National Security Committee to determine the prices of petroleum products. “[They are doing this] so the blame for rising prices falls on the army,” said the PTI chairman.
In another remark targeting Maryam Nawaz, Imran said someone sent him a clip from Maryam’s public meeting from a day ago wherein she took his name many times. “I want to tell you that your husband may get upset because of the way you are taking my name,” the ex-PM said.
Reacting strongly to this comment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said women from the entire country should protest against the use of such “regrettable” language.
“Using such shallow tactics, you will not be able to hide your crimes against the country. One can’t expect those who disrespected Masjid-i-Nabvi (PBUH) to respect mothers, sisters and daughters,” Shehbaz wrote on Twitter.
