LAHORE: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced a power show at Minar-e-Pakistan on Wednesday (March 22), calling it a ‘referendum’ against the PDM regime.
Addressing the nation via video link, the former premier vowed to take legal action against police officials who “ransacked and looted” his home in violation of high court orders while he had gone for a court appearance.
“Now, we are doing Minar-i-Pakistan on Wednesday. And I want the whole country to see, it will be a referendum on where the people stand. Everyone will know where the nation stands, and where the cabal of crooks and their handlers stand,” he said.
Berating the Punjab police, the PTI chief said that police had tried to frame him for keeping alcohol and weapons in his house. He added that police had even showed petrol bombs in plastic bottles, which showed how ‘stupid’ the authorities are.
The PTI chairman also came down hard on PML-N Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz. Calling her the ‘queen of liars’, Imran said Maryam was trying to create anarchy by calling Pakhtoons terrorists.
Imran Khan recalled the recent events and said his party decided to launch its election campaign on March 8 with a rally in Lahore after the Punjab elections were set for April 30.
Imran had earlier announced that the power show at Minar-i-Pakistan would take place today (March 19) but the Lahore High Court had directed the PTI to reschedule its rally and have a dialogue with the administration.
At the outset of his address, Imran said: “I wanted to speak to you all last night but I couldn’t. It was good that I didn’t because I was angry. And a person should not speak when he is angry.”
He asked what exactly his crime was, saying that the entire nation knew that he always respected the law. He alleged that 96 cases had been registered against him so far.
“Whenever I leave the house, more cases are registered against me. Who is doing this? The criminals responsible for doing this to the country are the ones registering cases against me.”
He alleged that the coalition government was behind the attempt on his life in Wazirabad, adding that they had the backing of “handlers”.
