PTI protest miles away from Sharifs’ estate: Aleem Khan

PTI leader insists that it will be a peaceful gathering

LAHORE: Surveying the grounds in Raiwind for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s protest later this month, party leader Aleem Khan said on Monday that the proposed site of the PTI campaign was a fair distance away from the PM’s private residence.

“There is a misconception that Raiwind means the PM’s private residence. Many people fail to understand how far this place [Addah plot] is from his house,” he told reporters.

He also made it clear that the PTI rally would be a peaceful gathering. “I guarantee it will be peaceful and I hope both the police and the government will cooperate with us,” he said. But Aleem Khan was quick to add that in case the government interfered or used police against them then his party would not hesitate in taking retaliatory action.



Aleem Khan said the party’s own security teams will cordon off any road leading to the PM’s personal residence to ensure no harm is done. “We do not aim to attack anyone’s home nor are we wanting to. The party intends to stage a protest not a sit-in on Raiwind road,” he said.

He also rubbished the security threats, saying similar threats were given during their previous rally in Lahore earlier this September when Punjab law minister asked them to postpone their march.

Regarding the date of the protest, he said it would be announced by the PTI chief Imran Khan. Earlier, the party announced to hold the protest on September 24 but later it said the schedule was not final. His party will initiate dialogue with the opposition to bring them round and clear any ‘misunderstandings’ about the protest.

Insiders say the party is under added pressure to cash in on the political momentum before the holy month of Muharram starts as it will be virtually impossible to hold such political agitation in the month. Sources say September 30 is also being considered as alternate date for the protest towards Raiwind.



Sources said talks of reviewing the protest venue were making rounds with skepticism, not just among the opposition alliance, but also within the party, over choice of the venue. Aleem Khan said while other venue options could not be ruled out, Raiwind city was also being considered as an alternative.

Rashid says Imran ‘politically isolated’

Earlier, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said Imran Khan’s announcement to march towards Raiwind had left him politically  isolated, adding that the government had not stopped him from the march.



“All political parties, including his political cousin (PAT), have abandoned him,” he said. Slamming the PTI chief, Rashid said Imran had to go for Hajj. “However, he wasn’t allowed by God [to perform Hajj] and he cut a deal with the devil,” he said.

In response to the scathing remarks made by Pervaiz Rashid, Aleem Khan invited him to tag along with their party chief to perform Hajj next year. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2016.