PTI to begin long march towards capital in May end

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehrik-e-insaf (PTI) will begin the long march towards Islamabad against the siting corrupt rulers and foreign conspiracy in the last week of May, former prime minister Imran Khan announced on Saturday.

“We will be giving this call to all Pakistanis, not just PTI supporters, as Pakistan has been insulted ater the country’s most corrupt people were imposed on us by a foreign power,” Imran said in a video statement.

Imran was ousted from power on April 10 ater the National Assembly voted against him on the no-confidence motion — making him the first premier to be voted out through the move.

Imran had repeatedly blamed the US for backing the no-confidence motion and has refused to accept newly-elected PM Shahbaz Sharif, saying “there can’t be any bigger insult to this country.” The Joe Biden-led administration in the US, however, has denied the allegations.

In his message released on Saturday, Imran said the PTI’S core commitee has decided to give the call as “60 per cent of the people in the federal cabinet are out on bail,” Geo News reported.

“The person who has become the Prime Minister is dubbed as the crime minister. His (family) has cases worth Rs40 billion pending in the FIA and NAB,” Imran said. The PTI chairman reiterated that such people being in power is an “insult” to Pakistan.

In his video message, the ex-prime minister said the preparations for the long march would begin on the eve of Eid Al Fitr and urged the youth to come out on the streets with PTI’S flags in their hands.

“You will have to tell the world that Pakistan is a nation that is alive [...] and once the preparations begin, our next target will be Islamabad,” the PTI chairman said.

Former premier said he believed that a sea of people will storm Islamabad and give a clear message to the people: “From now on, no one from abroad can impose a corrupt government on us. Pakistani people will decide Pakistan’s fate.”

Reacting to the Masjid-e-nabvi incident, former prime minister termed it a “public reaction” and said that it was a “consequence” of their deeds.