PTI drive will continue until elections called: Rashid

Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) movement against the government would continue until a schedule for the early elections was announced.

Addressing a gathering outside his residence in Lal Haveli, Rashid – who also heads the Awami Muslim League (AML), an ally of the PTI – said that the participants of the PTI long march towards Islamabad would remove all obstacles in their way.

The former minister charged that “thieves” had taken on the responsibilities of prime minister and chief minister, while half of the incumbent cabinet members were “thugs”. He repeated Imran’s claim that the US was involved in the regime change ‘conspiracy’.

Rashid said that he was not with the PTI but with Imran Khan. “Imran Khan has become the voice of the nation. When Imran Khan will reach Islamabad, I will personally go to welcome him in the [capital] city. We will remove containers and cast them aside.”

Also read: We have entered Punjab, heading towards Islamabad: Imran Khan

Commenting on the remarks by a judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that he had spoken of anarchy, Rashid said that he would die rather than support any unrest. “We will do politics of peace and democracy…we will protect opponents also.”

Earlier, the AML chief reached Lal Haveli 15 minutes before his announced time and addressed the workers while standing on a concrete protective block. He said that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah wanted “to kill me but see I have reached here”.

During his speech, the concrete blocks started crumbling, however, supporters helped Rashid get down safely. After the speech, Rashid moved to an undisclosed location while being surrounded by the AML workers.