Ready for action: ‘Don’t you dare arrest Imran Khan!’

PTI’s Karachi workers come out in massive show of support

KARACHI: While its leaders in Islamabad race to get to Imran Khan's home in Bani Gala, the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Karachi has warned the government to refrain from arresting their party chairperson or any other leader.

Otherwise they have threatened to close down the Karachi port, National Highway and important thoroughfares of the city.

The leadership expressed these concerns during their 'accountability rally', which has been dubbed 'Istefa do, Ya Talashi [Resign or be held accountable]'. The rally was carried out on Sunday from Insaf House in Nursery to the Mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam.

Hoards of supporters came out onto the streets, many accompanied by their families, as part of the rally.



Party workers and supporters bedecked in the party flag travelled with the rally on motorcycles and in cars, while young workers danced to the tune of party anthems. Senior workers and supporters chanted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

An elderly woman, Naseeri Bai, said she wants a system in the country that does not differentiate between the privileged and under-privileged. She held a placard which said she wants Maryam Nawaz and Aseefa Bhutto to travel in a W-18 public bus so that they will also understand the common problems of the lower middle class.

Another party worker, Gul Amin Khan, told The Express Tribune he plans to travel to Islamabad to attend the sit-in on November 2.

Going via Sharea Quaideen, the rally ended at Mazar-e-Quaid, where the party leadership took a pledge from the workers to support Imran.

PTI provincial president MNA Dr Arif Alvi said that the successful rally has proved that the federal government's days are numbered. Dr Alvi added that the government has no idea about the power of their party chairperson and his supporters. "Our party workers and its leadership are not afraid of anyone and they will not sit idle until they overthrow the corrupt leaders," he told participants of the rally.

Dr Alvi said that the workers and party in Karachi are following the situation in Islamabad, adding that, "we are going to close everything if Imran Khan is arrested."  PTI Karachi president Firdous Shamim Naqvi said the workers should be ready for their chairperson's call. "We are together with Imran Khan in his struggle and the workers in Karachi are no less than any others, as they have full support of the people of Karachi," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2016.