PTI to contest general elections if assemblies dissolved before May 14, says Imran

PTI to take to streets if 'SC's order not followed'

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday said the PTI was ready to contest general elections if the PDM-led government dissolved assemblies before May 14 [date fixed by Supreme Court for Punjab elections].

Addressing the PTI's rally as it concluded at Nasir Bagh, he said if they [the PDM] violated the constitution, there would be lawlessness in the country. "We'll come to streets if they violate the constitution or go against the SC's orders," he added.

He went on to say that the next week would be a deciding week. "They want to hold elections when they think they will win," he added.

Mr Khan said inflation was skyrocketting and labourers were suffering. 

Hailing the "massive response" to the PTI's call for rally on Twitter earlier, he wrote it was a warning to those who were thinking of defying Supreme Court's order [of holding Punjab election on May 14] and the constitution.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 1, 2023

Flexing its muscles, PTI showed its street power by taking out a rally in Lahore in connection with International Workers’ Day. The rally started from Liberty Chowk and ended at Nasir Bagh. According to party sources, the rally, under Mr Khan's leadership, reached MAO College through Ferozepur Road and ended at Nasir Bagh via Lower Mall Road. 

Mr Khan had been advised against coming out of his car to address the participants on grounds of security concerns.

The participants of the rally will be received at Ichhra, Mazang and other places. At the end of the rally, Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan will address workers from his car. Instructions have been issued to the leaders and workers from Lahore to participate in the rally.

PTI gets administration's nod for Lahore rally

On the other hand, the district administration has given PTI permission to take out a rally. The rally will be allowed from 1 am to 6 pm. Deputy Commissioner Lahore Rafia Haider has also issued a notification of permission for the rally. The ECP had directed the party to call off its rally as it had not sought permission from the district administration.

According to the permit, reception camps will not be set up for the rally. The rally administration will be responsible for the security of the stage, women and all enclosures and will ensure uninterrupted power supply in all relevant areas. Speeches against the judiciary and institutions will not be allowed in the rally.

Tehreek-e-Insaf will cooperate with the focal person and the concerned administration to improve security. PTI officials will cooperate fully with the district administration and traffic police to keep the traffic flowing and avoid any disruption.

According to the permit, in case of any damage to public property during the rally, PTI's administration will be responsible.The district administration has made it mandatory that due to the rally, business centers will not be allowed to be closed or damaged at any place.

The workers and related persons will not be allowed to bring sticks or anything like that during the rally. No wall chalking will be permitted. No one will be hurt and no one will be forced to participate in the rally.

No reception camps will be set up for the rally, display of weapons will be banned at the gathering venue and surrounding areas. Adequate parking arrangements will be made for the participants. No wall checking will be done on the rally route.

The ECP had,earlier, issued a show-cause notice to the PTI over violating the Election code of conduct.

“It is necessary to seek the permission of the district administration to hold rallies and jalsas,” read the notice. Subsequently, the electoral watchdog directed the PTI to call off its May 1 rally.

PTI's power show in other cities

On the other hand, PTI's rally in Peshawar, lead by former KP CM Pervaiz Khattak and former NA Speaker Asad Qaisar, started from Gulbahar chowk and concluded at Yadgar chowk. 

Mr Khattak, addressing the rally, said it did not seem that the negotiations between the PTI and the PDM-led government would end well.

PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi lead the party's rally in Rawalpindi. Addressing the rally, he said the third round would take place on Tuesday adding that the PTI was ready for negotiations. "I want to ask Mr Dar if enjoys Nawaz Sharif's confidence and if Khawaja Asif is the part of the party too," he added.

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 1, 2023

A day earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that he did not see a “positive outcome” of the talks. “What will be the result of the negotiations with the PTI as they are setting conditions,” he said. Meanwhile Javed Latif had said talks should never be held with “terrorists” and those who “want to destroy national institutions”.

Mr Qureshi went on to say that the PDM was divided on negotiations adding that it should place its point of view clearly on Tuesday. "If you do not agree, I'll place the PTI's suggestions before the SC and then the court will decide on it," he added.

He said labourers were not getting wage adding that Pakistan's economy had been destroyed. "The PTI is expressing its solidarity with labourers in different cities," he added.

The party workers also staged a protest against the census in Karachi.

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 1, 2023