“Haqeeqi Azadi is the main goal of the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf [PTI],” party secretary-general Asad Umar said on Friday, addressing a news conference ahead of the start of the long march.
Umar, flanked by PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, said that in the country everyone knew that the decisions were taken by a few selected people behind closed doors.
Secretary General PTI @Asad_Umar addressing the media ahead of the historic long march! #حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/mWcyU8uGXJ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 28, 2022
He said that the people would make history in the long march, whose ultimate goal was ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ [real freedom]. “The people are standing with their captain [PTI Chairman Imran Khan] and they should come to the march without any fear.” He emphasised that the march would be peaceful.
PTI Women team leading PTI’s long March in Lahore, a massive participation by the crowd! #حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/qSFjEhXYyW
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 28, 2022
He reiterated the party’s call for fresh elections in the country. “Let the people elect their leader through transparent elections. The elected leader will be answerable to the people and no one else should have the right to run the country”.
He urged the people to come out in large numbers if they wanted actual change in the country. “Imran Khan is the only leader, who could bring about a much-needed change in Pakistan,” he maintained.
Latest exclusive visuals from Lahore, as the crowd keeps getting bigger! #حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/1vNRXYQrp7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 28, 2022
Responding to a question, the PTI leader said that through an application, the PTI had informed the Islamabad administration that a series of sit-ins and meetings will start from November 4.
“The Constitution allows us to hold meetings and stage demonstrations even the Constitution permits us to hold meetings 365 days,” he said.
The PTI secretary general said that the only solution to the country’s current problems was fresh elections. “We are ready for negotiations if the government gives a date for the new elections in the country,” he maintained.
On the occasion, Fawad Chaudhary said they were dedicating the long march to slain journalist Arshad Sharif and the media fraternity and paid tributes for his contribution to investigative journalism.
Also read: ‘Our criticism of establishment constructive’, Imran says at Liberty Chowk
He condemned the arrest of journalist Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain, saying how big a threat a 78-year-old man can be to anyone. “I request the authorities to show some respect to this man”.
He noted that under the coalition government, journalists were being brutally treated in Pakistan, which was never seen in the past,” he added.
ہمارا قافلہ اچھرہ پہنچ چکا ہے۔
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 28, 2022
نکلیں عزم عالیشان کی خاطر ! #حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/BlTHNrZlAJ
Fawad also said that Arshad Sharif had appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of this brutality. “If the Supreme Court had taken notice, Sharif would have been alive,” he added.
Speaking about the long march, he said that the people should take part in this march even if they do not belong to the PTI. “The nation must reject decisions taken behind closed doors," he added.
He underscored that the future of Pakistan was dependent on the success and failure of today's march. "If this movement fails, the nation will fail,” he added.
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