Will shut Islamabad after Muharram: Imran Khan
Khan has challenged the Prime Minister to conduct a bigger rally than PTI at Minar-e-Pakistan
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan has claimed on Friday to shut the federal capital down as part of protest against the alleged government after Muharram.
He was addressing a rally in Raiwind, which is seen by different sections as home to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif given the fact that he resides in a nearby locality of Jati Umra.
Khan started off by thanking the participants, giving a special mention to women members for showing up at the demonstration. He lauded the members for making their presence sure in neighbourhood of "pharaoh" of the time, referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that enthusiasts of PTI broke the shackles of fear in reign of PML-N.
He said that the nation was witnessing a time that signified ‘fall’ of the current rulers which according to him was not far.
Over Rs 8.5 billion were spent in the past eight years to maintain security of Jati Umra, he complained. Khan said that billions of Rupees, paid by the people in name of taxes were spent to built roads in Lahore and welfare projects were marginalized.
PTI Chairman alleged the premier of snatching pieces of land in Raiwind. Billions of Rupees paid by the people in good faith which were to be spent on construction on hospitals and schools were utilized to pave roads, he said.
He said that wasting people’s money, that they earned lawfully has made the government weakling.
Khan referred to a digital presentation that was projected for visual aid of the onlookers while he criticised PML-N for its alleged corruption. Khan maintained silence for a minute when an audio clip from an interview recording of Maryam Nawaz, premier s daughter was played.
Khan demanded the Chairman of National Accountability Bureau to answer to the people on why the department did not take action against premier s alleged looting.
He accused the government of shaping up a system which allegedly puts the innocent behind the bar while criminals enjoy being at large.
He highlighted a statement of premier’s wife, Kulsoom Nawaz that was given on April 10, 2000 as he attempted to draw contradictions with interviews given later on.
Imran Khan also censured former dictator, Pervez Musharraf during his speech by saying that he damaged the country on both economical and institutional levels.
Khan has challenged the Prime Minister to conduct a bigger rally than PTI at Minar-e-Pakistan.
Imran on Modi
PTI chief stated in his address that using coercive forces was not a solution to any outstanding issue between India and Pakistan. Dubbing Modi a prejudiced man, he said that not every Pakistani preferred lucrative businesses over national interest unlike Nawaz Sharif.
Victimised people of the occupied valley of Kashmir have been rendering sacrifices of their lives for past 26 years, he said.
Imran Khan said that he hoped Modi would devise policies deviant of those that he had exercised while being in power in Gujrat before assuming charge as premier.
Not every Pakistani was Nawaz Sharif, he reiterated.
Khan said: "Beware Modi! Pakistani nation is united." The entire nation was standing besides the soldiers guarding the Line of Control, Chairman of PTI said.
Accountability over Panama leak
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has been demanding the institutions to join its call for accountability of those ruling the country starting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family ever since Panama Papers named premier’s daughter, Maryam Safdar and his two sons over owning at least three shell companies.
It was revealed earlier this year that ‘sensitive’ documents were leaked from database of a Panama-based law firm, registered under the name of Mossack Fonseca, which were studied by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
The documents that named at least 140 different former as well incumbent leaders of the world were published by Panama Papers in April.
The alliance of different opposition parties which ensued saw the offshore companies as means to stash wealth abroad and evade taxes. The political parties including PTI demanded probe of accumulation of wealth by the premier under the Supreme Court.
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Khurshid Shah boycotted sessions of the assembly as the arguments were shaped into a deadlock.
However, over premier’s offer, a parliamentary committee was put together that was tasked with forming joint Terms of References, agreed over by both six members of the opposition and the government each that the committee was comprised of.
After several meetings of the committee over a course of roughly three months, analysts started to believe that the heat had fiddled out in the issue as no solution was derived off the understanding.
Putting together joint TORs remains a task to be done till date.
‘Ehtesaab’ movement
Imran Khan had announced to carry out rallies in a number of cities in different provinces as a result of undone probe earlier this year.
The political party mobilised workers and activists, calling to hold the premier and his family accountable among other leaders of the country and convened gatherings in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Bannu and other areas under the name of ‘Ehtesaab’ (accountability) movement.
As a part of series of protests against alleged corrupt government, Imran Khan announced earlier this month to lead a rally in Raiwind as another pressure tactic against the premier and his cabinet that PTI leaders believe is corrupt.
PTI ‘singled out’
Imran Khan had invited Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Awami Tehreek among others to join him in his ‘struggle’ on September 30.
PAT chief, Dr Tahirul Qadri and leadership of PPP did not officially participate in Raiwind march despite the fact that both the parties were endorsers of the alliance formed earlier this year.
However, rubbishing all reports, Khan remained unequivocal in his stance to rally on Friday in Raiwind of Lahore, for participation in which, he also had extended invitation to supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Government’s denial
The third-time Prime Minister in his political career, Nawaz Sharif and federal ministers appointed after General Elections 2013 have invariably denied all accusations of corruption and dishonesty towards the nation.
In a move to clear his position, Prime Minister used the platform of National Assembly to address the disgruntled lawmakers over Panama leak in May. He denied stashing wealth in banks in foreign countries and stated that he always remained committed to serving the nation all through his career.
Premier s speech in National Assembly is still criticised by Khan in his public addresses for the delay that it came with after the leak.
Trading barbs
PTI has been trading barbs with the ruling party ever since it assumed power after winning General Elections 2013 which Imran Khan had branded rigged.
The biggest of the protests that Imran Khan has led against Nawaz Sharif-led government till date was back in 2014 in D-Chowk of Islamabad which was recorded as the longest running sit-in in the history of Pakistan.
It began on the day when the nation celebrated Independence Day, August 14, 2014 and ended on December 17.
PTI had mobilized a humungous number of people then from across the country to join Imran Khan in his ‘Azadi March’ in Islamabad.
Over a dozen of PTI enthusiasts are still fighting legal cases in the twin cities over storming of state-run television channel and a couple of violent clashes with police then.
