PTI will quit assemblies, says Imran after ending march
I’m more worried about the freedom of Pakistan than my life. I will fight for this country until my last drop of blood, PTI chief tells supporters; 10,000 personnel deployed, with snipers positioned at various points for his security
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehrik-einsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced on Saturday that his party has decided to quit all the assemblies including the provincial legislatures of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
As a result the assemblies will be dissolved. Imran told the last gathering of his long march in Rawalpindi that he has talked to the chief ministers of Punjab and KP and will consult with the provincial parliamentary parties. However, he did not give any date to complete the process, resulting in the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies.
“We don’t want to remain part of the corrupt system,” the former prime minister declared to the tens of thousands of his cheering supporters. However, instead of marching on to Islamabad as repeatedly announced for months, he ended his street protest in Rawalpindi.
“The government can not afford the islamabad march; it cannot stop millions from entering the federal capital. We could have created a Sri Lanka-like situation,” Imran said.
But, he added that the party has decided to quit all legislative assemblies in the country in a bid to force the incumbent rulers to announce early elections.
“If riots take place then things will get out of everyone’s hands. I tried my best not to take any step which could create chaos in the country. Today I am deciding against marching on Islamabad because we don’t want to spread anarchy in the country,” he announced.
“We will not remain part of this corrupt system. We have decided to quit all legislative assemblies.”
The PTI chief said he had discussed the mater of stepping down from assemblies and with the chief ministers and the final decision in this regard will be announced ater PTI’S parliamentary party meeting. “Instead of causing harm to our country it is beter to leave this corrupt system.”
Imran said overseas Pakistanis are standing with him because they are aware of the importance of the rule of law. “If Pakistan is in a difficult situation today it’s not because we are short of resources but due to the absence of rule of law.”
The deposed premier earlier landed in Islamabad for the ‘climax’ of the long march and arrived in Rawalpindi to address his first public gathering ater being injured in a gun atack earlier this month. “When I was leaving for Rawalpindi from Lahore, everyone advised me against travelling due to wounds in my leg,” he said.
Secondly, Imran said his aides also warned him not to address the public rally in Rawalpindi as “three culprits holding top porfolios will attempt again to kill me.” “Many prime ministers come and go but the public never came out in such large numbers like they gathered here for me,” he added.
He said there would be no difference between animals and humans if people of the country accepted the rulers who came to power through ‘NRO’ [amnesty].
“No society can prosper where there is no rule of law.”
He said families like Sharifs and Zardaris are responsible for weakening Pakistan’s institutions in a bid to protect their “looted wealth.” “I felt ashamed when I had to ask for loans from other countries when I was prime minister.”
However, he admited that he failed to bring the powerful under the law.
“Because NAB was under the control of the establishment and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told me that all cases were ready but they were not receiving orders from the top.
“Establishment told me to focus on the economy and stop pursuing corruption cases; they did not consider corruption wrong. Those who had power did not consider corruption bad. “Establishment was not part of the conspiracy but they did not stop their [then opposition] conspiracy from coming to power.”
He said former premier Nawaz Sharif was a major hurdle in holding early polls as the former “is taking all decisions sitting in London.”
“The real problem is that convict [Nawaz Sharif] siting in London who is running away from elections; it does not make any difference for Sharif and Zardari if the country defaults because their billions are stashed abroad.”
We don’t want to remain part of the corrupt system: EXPM; the govt... cannot stop millions from entering Islamabad; If Pakistan is in a difficult situation it’s not because we are short of resources but due to the absence of rule of law: PTI leader.
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, in his first public appearance since being wounded in a gun atack earlier this month, said on Saturday he was calling off his protest march to Islamabad because he feared it would cause havoc in the country.
Imran has been holding country-wide protests to push the government for early elections since being ousted from power in April. The protests were to culminate in a march to Islamabad, which threatened to worsen political turmoil in the nuclear-armed country which is batling an economic crisis. “I have decided not to go to Islamabad because I know there will be havoc and the loss will be to the country,” Imran said while speaking at a gathering of thousands of supporters in Rawalpindi.
Saturday’s rally was the climax of a so-called “long march” by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrike-insaf (PTI) party to press the government to call a snap election before parliament’s term expires in October next year.
Earlier, Imran arrived on stage using a walking frame and addressed the crowd from behind bulletproof glass. He said he had been told by various security sources there was still a threat to his life.
“I have seen death from up close,” said Imran Khan, who hobbled to the stage with a walking frame to speak to supporters from a plush seat behind a panel of bulletproof glass.
“I’m more worried about the freedom of Pakistan than my life,” he told the crowd. “I will fight for this country until my last drop of blood.”
The rally was squeezed onto a motorway in Rawalpindi, a garrison city neighbouring the capital Islamabad and home to the headquarters of the country’s powerful military.
Tight security was in place for Khan’s appearance. A police official told local television channel Geo TV that a total of 10,000 personnel had been deployed for the event, with snipers positioned at various points for his security.
Imran was earlier this month shot in the shin when his anti-government protest convoy bound for Islamabad came under atack in the east of the country, in what his aides said was a clear assassination atempt by his rivals.
He named Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and a senior military official of ploting his assassination, but both the government and military have denied involvement. Sharif has called for a transparent inquiry. One person has been arrested over the incident and said he acted alone.
Imran Khan said he was consulting his party on the possibility of resigning from all provincial assemblies in a fresh bid to push for early elections. PTI has already resigned from the federal parliament, but remains in power in two provinces and two administrative units.
The PTI chief said he had discussed the matter of stepping down from all legislative with the chief ministers and the final decision in this regard will be announced ater PTI’S parliamentary party meeting. “Instead of causing harm to our country it is beter to leave this corrupt system.”
The deposed premier earlier landed in Islamabad for the ‘climax’ of the long march and arrived in Rawalpindi to address his first public gathering ater being injured in a gun atack earlier this month. “When I was leaving for Rawalpindi from Lahore, everyone advised me against travelling due to wounds in my leg,” he said.
Secondly, Imran said his aides also warned him not to address the public rally in Rawalpindi as “three culprits holding top porfolios will attempt again to kill me.” “Many prime ministers come and go but the public never came out in such large numbers like they gathered here for me,” he added.
He said there would be no difference between animals and humans if people of the country accepted the rulers who came to power through ‘NRO’ [amnesty]. “No society can prosper where there is no rule of law.”
Saghir Ahmed, a 32-year-old tailor, was among thousands arriving in the long build-up to Imran Khan’s speech atop a plaform draped with banners depicting a clenched fist breaking shackles.
Having shut his shop to atend, Ahmed said Pakistan’s dire economic situation — with galloping inflation and a nosediving rupee — has made life “unbearable”.
“We hope Khan will introduce some reforms and the situation will improve,” he told AFP.