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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan left for his Bani Gala residence After giving a six-day ultimatum to the government to announce the election date.
The PTI chairman and the top party leaders left the container soon after the speech while the party workers managed to enter the Red Zone despite heavy security. Islamabad Police attempted to remove them from the restricted areas while IGP Islamabad was also present on the scene.
Addressing protesters at Islamabad’s Jinnah Avenue, he warned that he would return to the capital with the “entire nation” otherwise. The former prime minister said he had reached Islamabad after 30 hours of travelling from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Government has tried every method to crush our Azadi March, they used teargas on peaceful protest, our homes were raided and privacy of the homes were violated, however I have seen the nation free itself from fear of slavery,” he said.
While giving a deadline to the government to announce the date for fresh polls,Imran Khan said, “he is giving a six-day ultimatum to the government to dissolve assemblies and announce general elections in June.”
“My message for imported government is to dissolve assemblies and announce elections, otherwise I will come back again to Islamabad after six days,” he added.
He thanked the Supreme Court for taking notice of the matter and said there was a “huge responsibility” on the court’s judges.
He went on to ask where in a democracy peaceful protests were not allowed and demonstrators had to face tear-gas shelling, police raids and arrests. The PTI chairman entered Islamabad in the early hours of Thursday and marched towards D-Chowk.
Govt decides to deploy army
The federal government authorised the deployment of the army in Red Zone to “protect important government buildings”.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah issued a notification saying the government has authorise the deployment”of the army in Red Zone under Article 245 of the Constitution.
Among the buildings that will be protected are the Supreme Court, Parliament House, Prime Minister House, Presidency, Pakistan Secretariat and Diplomatic enclaves,” the notification said.
PTI enters Punjab
PTI workers and supporters are attempting to make their way towards Islamabad as they pushed aside containers and braved tear gas shelling after answering chairman Imran Khan’s call for a long march.
Imran Khan had arrived at the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by helicopter. Footage of Imran arriving at the interchange showed PTI activists converging on the chopper. The PTI chairman, later, departed for Islamabad from the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Would urge everyone to carry the Pakistan flag with them. This is a defining moment today for the Haqiqi Azaadi of Pakistan.#حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/RXUPKFyYgQ
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 25, 2022
Lahore turned into a battleground as multiple scuffles took place between the police and PTI marchers as the latter tried to wriggle out of the barricades placed on their way. Law enforcement was on high alert and the government has given instructions to take “all possible measures” to stop the PTI’s ‘Azadi March’.
‘No blockade can stop us’
After reaching Swabi, Imran, holding a Pakistan flag, delivered a speech to supporters. “We are going to D-Chowk and no one can stop us” the PTI chairman said as the crowd cheered.
He termed the incumbent government the most corrupt people in the country of history, saying that they were afraid of the people which is why they had placed containers. Imran said that protesters were being detained and harassed as they participated in the Azadi March.
Addressing politicians of the ruling coalition, Imran said that the PTI government did not bar any of them from staging protests as they “did not fear the people”.
He asserted that the government was afraid as they had been plundering national wealth for the past 30 years. “I want to give the people a message from Swabi Interchange: whatever you do, we will cross all obstacles and reach D-Chowk. Our protest will be peaceful as it has always been.”
Imran maintained that staging a protest was the party’s right, adding that he would unite the country and make it a nation. “This nation does not accept this imported government,” he declared, calling on the people to leave their homes.
“All Pakistanis, women, children, families, youth, lawyers, retired army officers, everyone has to come out for real independence,” he said.
Govt, Imran Khan deny reaching agreement
The federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have denied reports that an agreement has been reached over the long march to Islamabad.
In a tweet, Minister of Information Marriyum Aurangezeb said news of negotiations and agreement between the government and PTI is baseless. She said no agreement has been reached with the “armed group that martyred the police personnel”.
وفاقی حکومت اور پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے درمیان کوئی معاہدہ نہیں ہوا ۔ حکومت اور تحریک انصاف کے درمیان مذاکرات اور معاہدہ کی خبر بے بنیاد ہے .پولیس اہلکاروں کو شہید کرنے والے مسلح جتھے کے ساتھ کوئی معاہدہ نہیں کیا گیا.
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) May 25, 2022
PTI chairman Imran Khan also denied the “rumours” and “deliberate disinformation” that a deal has been reached.
Rumours & delib disinfo that a deal has been done. Absolutely not! We are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal. We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given. Calling all ppl of Islamabad & Pindi to join
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 25, 2022
“Absolutely not! We are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal. We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given,” he said. He called on all people of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to join them.
Arrests so far
The police have so far arrested more than 10 PTI workers from Batti Chowk; meanwhile, police confirmed that some marchers have also been arrested from the Srinagar Highway. PTI workers have also been arrested from D-Chowk.
In a press conference, DIG Operations Lahore Sohail Chaudhry said that in the last few days the police had information that weapons were being brought to Lahore, which could be used to disturb the peace.
The senior cop said the police chased five cars near the motorway and then raided the home of Zubair Niazi, the PTI general secretary in Lahore. “At his home we found weapons. It seems apparent they were planning to use these weapons in the march,” he adds.
Meanwhile, police have arrested a total of nine PTI workers from Numaish Chowrangi, including three women.
Lal Haveli clashes
In Rawalpindi, a large number of activists have gathered outside Lal Haveli, the residence of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
A large number of policemen have been deployed outside. Police even arrested dozens of workers. Sheikh Rashid will lead a rally from his residence to the city. Former Governor Sindh Imran Khan also managed to reach Lal Haveli residence on a motorcycle.
In Lahore, police attempted to arrest Hammad Azhar. Party supporters and police as they tried to arrest Azhar, who could be seen wearing a red cap. Police managed to arrest PTI leader Jamshed Iqbal Cheema.
Shelling in Lahore
Police personnel is on high alert to stop the ‘Azadi March’. At Lahore’s Batti Chowk, the police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse PTI workers and removed barriers placed to block the routes.
PTI Lahore Chapter had asked its workers to gather at the Batti Chowk from where they will depart for Islamabad. The party workers clashed with the police when they removed barriers while police fired tear gas shells to clear the area.
PTI leader Hammad Azhar announced that he has reached Batti Chowk. He managd to get past the obstacles towards GT Road on his way to Islamabad.
Police also encircled the car of former health minister Yasmeen Rashid to stop her from moving forward. She also tried stopping the police from taking away her car keys.
شاہدرہ کے کپتان انجینئر یاسر گیلانی نے شاہدرہ چوک پر لگے کنٹینر ہٹا دیے۔ #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/DM1355nVJ1
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 25, 2022
Decisive moment
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi invited the entire nation to attend the march. “It is a decisive moment for the whole nation as we have to decide whether we want to become an independent nation or repeat the history of 75 years.”
“The last time the nation got united was in 1974 and made a decision. Now, once again the whole nation needs to come out of their houses,” he said in a statement.
He said only PTI chairman Imran Khan was capable of addressing the issues of Pakistan and he should be given a fresh mandate.
He warned that if the government tried to block roads in Islamabad for those joining the PTI’s long march, the whole country will become Islamabad (a venue for protests).
Break chains of fear
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has vowed to carry on with the ‘Azadi March’ despite the government’s decisionto stop the long march.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Tuesday, the former prime minister said he will lead the “biggest procession in Pakistan’s history”.
He strongly slammed the PML-N-led government, saying the Sharif family is adopting the same tactics as military dictators.
“They only remember democracy as soon as they leave power,” he said, asking how many times these parties have taken to the streets throughout the PTI government’s term.
The former prime minister then asked if the PTI government made any arrests when PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and JUI-F Cheif Maulana Fazlur Rehman marched towards Islamabad.
“The crime minister and his son had to be sentenced but now they are making decisions for the country,” he said and claimed that the PTI has not broken any law in its 26 years of political history.
The PTI chairman said that it was the democratic right of his party to carry on with the ‘Azadi March;. He also warned the authorities of retribution against every unlawful order.
The PTI chairman asked his supporters to “break the chains of fear” saying the government could not stop the sea of people marching to Islamabad.