Pakistan

Raiwind march will be staged despite obstacles, Imran warns rulers

A change in the protest schedule is possible; we do not intend to surround the PM's house, says PTI chairman

News Desk September 09, 2016

PTI chairman Imran Khan talking to media persons in Bani Gala, Islamabad on September 9, 2016. PHOTO: MUDASSAR RAJA/EXPRESS

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said on Friday that party's Raiwind march will be organised before Muharram at all costs, but a change in the schedule was possible.

"We have not yet issued a final date for the Raiwind siege but there will be a march followed by a procession, Imran told reporters in Bani Gala, Islamabad. "We will march towards Raiwind with or without the opposition parties and bring Lahore city to a standstill if we are stopped from protest."

Opposition parties, mainly PTI have called for a protest against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his alleged concealing of assets and having offshore companies.

I do not consider Ayaz Sadiq NA speaker: Imran Khan

Leaked documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama in April showed several world leaders including the premier’s three children – sons, Hassan and Hussain, and his daughter, Maryam – owning at least three offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Imran said the rulers were struggling to hide their corruption by file references against those bringing it to the fore.

"The PML-N used Punjab police against the innocent people of Model Town, Lahore," Imran said while referring to the deaths of 14 PAT workers on June 17, 2014.

PTI will march towards Raiwind on Sept 24

He, however, made it clear that his party does not intend to 'siege "anyone's house", saying it has never done this before.

"If we were stopped from practicing our democratic right of protest, then it will have serious consequences such as a shutdown of the entire city," Imran cautioned.

PTI chairman reiterated that the premier was causing the institutions to become weak to hide his own corruption, while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) does not pay heed to the Panama leaks probe demands.

COMMENTS (6)

Nasir H. Khan | 7 years ago | Reply I have been immensely disappointed by the leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaaf. Announcing location and date for Raiwind protest without prior consultation with other opposition parties was premature. The key opposition parties (8 to 10 leaders) should decide the main objective of protests along with priority of objectives. Next, the same leaders should decide the date and location of the next protest. Two main objectives could be to pressurize government to expedite the dispensation of justice for 1. Panama Leaks accused 2. The cold blooded murder and maiming of PAT workers. The united protest should be w/o party affiliation, as Pakistanis. Protest leaders should emphasize repeatedly to workers that protest has to remain peaceful and participants of the protest should be willing to sacrifice life or limb to achieve their objective. The opposition either has to be totally united as Pakistanis (i.e. no separate containers).

Sceptic | 7 years ago | Reply Imran khan should start his accountabilty with his ATMs first. Both Jahangir Tareen and Haleem Khan have offshore companies registered against their names in Panama. Even his sister, who is not a taxpayer in Pakistan, owns a property in UAE. It is kosher for his family and financiers to have offshore companies but not others. Politics of hypocrisy and desperation.