ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has given some more time to the government but warned that his party’s anti-government “Azadi March” would not be delayed past October if the PLM-N led coalition government refused to announce elections.
The PTI chairman was addressing a presser in Islamabad a day after his party stunned its rivals and won a majority of seats in by-polls.
“My march will be held in October if the government does not announce the date for the next general election.” The former premier said in a presser in Islamabad on Monday.
The PTI chief warned the government that scores of people will be out on the streets as he would give a call to the nation for the anti-government march.
Imran accused his political rival and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif of attempting to delay elections, saying “he (Sharif) is afraid to go to polls because of PTI’s constantly growing popularity.”
Imran said Sharif was waiting for the PTI’s wave of support to diminish before elections could be held.
He said that the government did not wish to hold elections and used floods as an excuse.
“They said that there were floods. But in the constituencies where elections were held, floods did not have an effect there.”
The PTI’s key meeting, chaired by Imran Khan, was primarily held to decide on when to push their strategic envelope for mounting pressure on the government in the shape of a final ultimatum for early elections.
The meeting also consulted on finalizing a date for the long march, while the report on the initial results of the by-elections also came under review.
The PTI chief questioned the logic of torturing a “75-year-old senator” over a “mere tweet”. “He (Swati) was beaten in front of his grandkids and then was taken to police station where law enforcers handed his custody to agencies, who then subjected him to more torture,” he Imran.
Imran said the incident brought disrepute to Pakistan and created an impression as if “the army is out of control and could do anything.”
Detailing his party’s next line of action, the PTI chief said “we have decided that we will call special sessions of KP and Punjab assemblies on this issue”.
He added that PTI senators will file petition with the Supreme Court, while the party will approach international organizations, HRC in Geneva to register its concern regarding torture on its party leaders.
Without naming anyone, the ex-premier said that “a man posted in Islamabad” was behind the action being taken against his party leaders.
