PTI ‘mass drive’ aims at forcing PM to resign

Unveils details of country-wide rallies to be addressed by party chief

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has unveiled details of its intensive ‘mass contact drive’ that includes rallies in all four provinces primarily aimed at building pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign in the wake of the Panamagate verdict.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan will address a number of public gatherings during the current and next month in major cities of the country.



Starting from the federal capital, the drive will be taken to the whole of Pakistan and continue until achieving its goals, said the party spokesperson.

The capital administration on Wednesday issued a no-objection certificate to the party for its first rally in this connection scheduled to be held on Friday [tomorrow] at the Parade Ground near Shakarparian.

The second rally will be held in Karachi on April 30 [Sunday].

In the next month, Khan will address rallies in Nowshera on May 5 and Abbottabad on May 12. Later during the month, rallies will also be organised in Attock, Quetta, Lahore and other cities for which dates have yet to be finalised.

Provincial and district office-bearers have been asked to take necessary arrangements in this regard, the spokesperson said.

The PTI had decided to start the mass contact drive soon after the announcement of the verdict in the Panamagate case by the Supreme Court during a meeting held at Imran Khan’s residence and attended by senior party leaders.

“It [drive] will not only help build pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but will also help shape the next general elections campaign of the PTI,” a senior party leader said.



“We will hold a massive public gathering next Friday in Islamabad and demand the prime minister to resign. This campaign will continue until the PM resigns. I ask countrymen to come forward and demand [his] resignation,” Khan had said on April 20 while addressing media men in front of the Parliament House.

The PTI has demanded of the PM to resign at least until the completion of investigations against him and his children through a Joint Investigation Team [JIT] as directed by the apex court.

Earlier, the PTI had rejected formation of the JIT, saying state institutions, which will investigate the PM and his family, are under direct influence of the PM, claiming free and fair investigations would only be possible if the PM resigns until the completion of investigations.



“The JIT will only be a viable option if the PM steps down,” Khan had said, adding the PTI was a democratic party and democratic parties consult countrymen and we would go to public if the PM refused to step down.

“Now, through this mass contact drive, starting April 28, the PTI would force the PM to resign.”