Imran gives 6-day ultimatum to govt for announcing elections

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday gave the incumbent government an ultimatum; to announce elections within six days or have the “entire nation” return to the capital.

In an impassioned speech, the ousted premier claimed he was providing the coalition government with ample time to hold general elections in June. “It is my duty to unite the nation,” Imran said adding that the was grateful that the nation had united against the “imported government.”

The PTI leader accused the government of coming into power to dismiss the cases of corruption against themselves, “you have not come to run the country.”

Referring to the judgment passed by the Supreme Court, the PTI chief stated that his “peaceful protests” could not be legally hindered by the federal government. Empowered, Imran stated that he would gather two million people in the federal capital for his cause.

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The former prime minister along with other party leaders, on Wednesday had reached Islamabad after PTI workers and supporters also made their way towards the federal capital, pushing aside containers and braving tear gas shelling.

As the chairman's caravan made its way to the famous D-Chowk after entering Islamabad, the federal government called in the Pakistan Army for the security of the capital's Red Zone.

The decision was taken for the protection of important government buildings, including the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, Presidency, Prime Minister Office and others.

Situation in Rawalpindi returns to normal

As Imran Khan's long march ended, the situation in the twin cities began to return to normal. With PTI workers leaving Islamabad’s Blue Area in convoys, the lack of transport caused problems for them.

The administration and police began removing obstacles to re-open the Murree Road and other highways.

According to reports, party workers severely damaged property in the Blue Area, setting fire to trees and burning telephone wires. The protest also resulted in pollution of the environment as garbage, including food waste was left scattered.

Departments, including the Capital Development Authority, have begun the rehabilitation work.

The Islamabad Police also reported that the party workers had entered the Red Zone after Imran gave a six-day deadline to the government.

"Police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies stopped them with great restraint," the spokesperson said.

Sit-in ends in Karachi

The PTI sit-in at Karachi’s Numaish Chowrangi ended at 8 am on Thursday.

Former federal minister Ali Haider Zaidi had appealed to the participants to not leave until Imran Khan's order, to which the participants had agreed.

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After the PTI leader's announcement to end the sit-in in Islamabad, the party's Karachi President Bilal Ghaffar thanked the participants at the square and announced to end the sit-in, following which the workers dispersed.

The KMC personnel reached the spot and completed the cleaning work. Later, the traffic police restored the flow of traffic on both roads.