Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday dropped a bombshell, claiming an “assassination attempt” was being hatched against him – video evidence of which was kept in a “secure place”.
The former prime minister, who is poised to take the great leap to the federal capital, made the startling claims while addressing a charged public gathering in Sialkot on Saturday.
In what was a prelude to his ‘Azadi March’ as the country braces for another acrimonious chapter in the political landscape, Imran told his supporters a plot was being orchestrated against his life, saying: “I have named all those elements involved in the conspiracy in the video. I knew about it and I got full knowledge of it a few days ago.”
Explaining why he recorded the video, Imran said, “If something happens to me, I want to let Pakistanis know who was involved inside and outside the country.”
He said he tried to expose in the video the conspirators who had colluded with the “looters” in the country, adding that his video would essentially expose all ‘traitors’ and everyone who had a role in the alleged conspiracy.
"They think 'Imran Khan can be an obstacle in our path and needs to be removed’. And that's why I've recorded this video because I think this is jihad and not politics. If something happens to me then I want all my Pakistanis to know who was complicit in this conspiracy.”
He added that he was asking the nation for a sacrifice to free the country of plunderers and looters.
The public gathering is part of several rallies being held by the former ruling party to throw the incumbent government out of gear by choking major cities and arteries leading up to the federal capital – the final battleground where Imran Khan seeks to nail his colours to the mast.
Imran also criticised the authorities for their alleged efforts to stop his party from staging the rally.
Read more: PTI switches Sialkot rally venue after tussle with authorities
Arrests
Addressing his supporters, he claimed that when in power, his party never stopped his political opponents from holding protests.
Earlier in the day, the PTI changed the venue for its Sialkot rally to a VIP cricket ground after the police stopped its workers from preparing the CTI ground for the public gathering giving the reason that it did not have the permission to hold a rally there.
Members of the minority community had protested and filed a writ petition against the use of the church land for political purposes.
Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Hasan Iqbal announced that the venue had been changed. Following the party's decision, the DPO announced that the police would ensure provision of complete security to the party’s rally.
“Former prime minister Imran Khan will be provided security according to his rank,” the DPO stated, adding that the rally was stopped at the CTI ground in efforts to not hurt the sentiments of the Christian community.
The PTI workers were stopped by the police and the Sialkot district administration from arranging a rally at the CTI ground with the law enforcement resorting to tear gas and batons to disperse the party supporters who resisted the move.
During the dispute, the police arrested PTI leader Usman Dar and several other party activists after permission to hold a rally at the earlier venue had been denied by DC Imran Qureshi.
Footage showed police personnel at the CTI ground, with PTI activists standing on top of a stationary crane in what seemed to be an attempt to prevent the LEAs from dismantling rally preparations. Clouds of tear gas could also be seen in the footage.
Also read: Imran banishes doubt, says will visit Sialkot today
Police arrested Usman Dar, Umar Dar, Hafiz Hamid Raza, Ali Asjad Malhi, Mehr Kashif, Saeed Ahmed, and Barrister Jamshed Ghias.
During his speech, the PTI chairman blamed the fiasco on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, calling him and his party a bunch of “cowards”.
“We are the followers of Prophet (PBUH) and we will never bow to any superpower… we never fear anyone accept Allah.”
Mocking his rivals, Imran said, “Three stooges [Shehbaz, Zardari and Fazlur Rehman] should listen that they cannot come in the way of this Azadi movement. This isn't politics, but a revolution coming your way.”
He added that those who were in charge of the accountability process did not consider corruption a bad practice and allowed the powerful to dodge accountability.
Specifically addressing the youth, he said, “Be prepared, I am sure your passion will defeat everything.” He also told them to “shut down petrol pumps, transport and internet” when he gives the call to do so.
Referring to the pressure on those investigating mafias, he asked, “Where are our courts and how will our institutions face such criminal elements.” Imran asked the judiciary further why they were not taking any action despite witnessing “destruction of the country and national institutions”.
“If you don’t want to nab and punish them, then let free all small criminals who are currently behind bars.”
Also read: Those who consider institutions weak are naive: Rashid
The PTI chief claimed that the country achieved the highest industrial progress during his rule, with the crowd cheering to endorse his views.
“Pakistan had its industries, crops, and exports all grow to new highs while unemployment dropped, during my government,” he maintained.
Explaining further, Imran said now when the “looters” were at the helm, inflation has skyrocketed and stock markets are crashing.
Reiterating his often-quoted stance, he asserted that the country couldn’t move forward unless the powerful were brought to justice.
Concluding his speech, Imran invited the people of Sialkot to march towards Islamabad on his call. “I’m confident now you are trained enough for it.”
On April 10, Imran Khan, the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan, became the first chief executive to be removed from office after losing majority in the National Assembly.
Imran’s party, which governed the country for over three-and-a-half years, had been struggling to stay in power as its allies betrayed to join hands with the opposition parties that had joined forces against the government.
While Pakistan’s history has been marred with political instability, no prime minister has ever been removed from office through a no-trust motion.
Ever since his ouster, Imran maintains the stance that the no-trust move was a result of a conspiracy hatched abroad by those who didn’t want Pakistan to pursue an ‘independent foreign policy’.
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