PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has announced to start Islamabad long march and staging an indefinite sit-in in the federal capital from May 25.
Imran Khan addressed an important press conference in Peshawar on Sunday, after chairing the party’s core committee session to finalize the strategy and date of Islamabad’s long march.
PTI Chairman said that he will arrive in Islamabad on May 25 and will meet his workers and supporters at 3pm at Srinagar Highway.
The former prime minister was flanked by several PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Mahmood Khan.
At the beginning of the press briefing, Khan praised the progress his government made during its tenure and criticized the incumbent setup for pushing the country towards bankruptcy.
He then reiterated that despite his efforts, a United States-backed conspiracy, “hatched in connivance with the previous Opposition”, ended up becoming successful in removing him.
The PTI chief said that he was demanding the dissolution of the assemblies and the announcement of the date for fresh elections and would end his protest only after achieving the two goals.
He also urged the military to stay ‘neutral’ and said that the fresh election he was demanding must be “free and fair.”
Khan also feared that the government would try to disrupt the ‘march’ by shutting down internet and discontinuing petrol and diesel supplies at filling stations.
He urged his supporters to leave early for the federal capital.
He urged Pakistanis of every social class and profession to reach Islamabad on May 25 to get rid of the ‘imported government’ and to achieve a better future.
He invited people from all professions and social classes, not just PTI workers, supporters, and activists to reach the federal capital.
Khan said that the ‘conspiracy’ to topple his government began in July last year, lamenting that they couldn’t stop it to succeed.
He said the conspiracy was done partnering people who would only protect their corruption after coming into power.
He emphasized that the conspiracy was not done against Imran Khan but the country because Pakistan was experiencing economic growth. He added that Pakistan produced the highest number of employment opportunities in the subcontinent.
Khan said PTI got a nearly bankrupt Pakistan but they rescued it and put the economy on the right track despite the coronavirus pandemic.
He claimed that there was no corruption in the PTI’s tenure, adding that the incumbent incompetent government is asking National Security Committee (NSC) to decide on the petrol prices.
PTI chairman reiterated that 220 million were insulted through the ‘threat’ that was given to the ambassador by the US official. He added that it was asked in the cipher why Imran Khan visited Russia, reiterating that he developed consensus with every stakeholder including the military establishment before the visit.
However, he said the US official was told by the local abettors of the conspiracy that the visit to Russia was Khan’s sole decision. This was done so to make Imran Khan look bad, he added.
He said India did not take pressure from the US and bought cheap energy from Russia for the benefit of the people and reduced petrol and diesel prices on Saturday.
The ex-premier said the people on bail in mega corruption cases have been installed in power which is another insult to Pakistan.
Khan also threatened the bureaucracy and security forces of the country of reprisal if they took action against marchers, who he said would remain peaceful.
He indicated that the march would convert into a sit-in and would continue until his demands are accepted.
“We will never under any situation accept them. No matter how long we have to remain in Islamabad we will remain there.”
The former prime minister called for fair and transparent elections, adding that if the nation were to bring the current government back into power then he would accept it. “But, no country from outside will [be allowed to] impose them on us,” he added.
He stressed that the party had always remained peaceful in its protests, adding that same would be true for the upcoming march, as he called on women, children and families to participate in “Pakistan’s battle for real freedom”.
