PTI chief promises big surprise on 26th
Former prime minister Imran Khan waves the national flag during what they call 'a true freedom march', to pressure the government to announce new elections, in Lahore, Pakistan October 28, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Sunday that he had no problem with whoever was appointed as the new chief of army staff (COAS) and promised “a big surprise for everyone on November 26”, when his long march was scheduled to reach Rawalpindi.
Speaking to a select group of journalists at his Zaman Park residence on Sunday, the former prime minister said that the “imported rulers” had been caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. “If they announce snap polls, they will face historic defeat and if they delay, the economy will default,” he said.
Imran said that he knew the government planning but added that his planning was “ahead of them”. He also said that “efforts are afoot for conducting elections in the country because everyone has realised that there is no solution to the current economic chaos” other than the fresh polls.
“The whole world is aware of their [incumbent rulers] corruption and nobody is going to trust them,” Imran claimed. “[Prime Minister] Shehbaz Sharif had been caught in the court of London and was trying to do an out-of-court settlement because he [Shehbaz] knew he could not prove himself innocent in the court,” he alleged.
The former prime minister pointed out that even after using the entire state machinery against him, the “imported rulers” could not find anything except the watch which, he said, was legally acquired by him. He reiterated that he had decided to bring the incumbent rulers to the court over the watch issue.
Imran disclosed that he had received a message through President Arif Alvi for negotiations, but said that the talks would take place only after the general election date was given. “My only demand is free and fair elections because there is no other option to resolve the current crisis,” he underlined. Imran said the “imported rulers” had never trusted the power of the people but he would defeat them with people’s power.
Imran’s media talk came a day after he called on his party leadership, supporters, and the people of Pakistan to join him in Islamabad on November 26, where he would unveil his party’s next plan.
Addressing the long march participants in Rawat through a video link from the provincial capital on Saturday, the PTI chief reiterated that his only demand was free and fair elections, which was the only way to pull the country out of the mess created by the current coalition government in the past seven months.
“Ask anyone in the country, they will say that fresh election is the only way forward. This coalition government has no roadmap from the beginning to address the economic challenges the country is facing apart from saving their plundered wealth,” he said.
Therefore, he said, he was asking the people to reach the federal capital between 1 pm and 2 pm where he would be waiting for them to unveil the next plan. He made it clear that his party’s movement for true freedom would not end in Islamabad.
The PTI chairman repeated his earlier statements that national decisions should be taken by the nation and that Pakistan should not become “a slave” to superpowers. “Pakistan is not established to beg from others rather to become a truly independent country”.
He lamented that he had to share India’s example time and again, but pointed out that the neighbouring country had an exemplary foreign policy. “The United States was upset with India for importing oil from Russia, but because of India’s firm stance in the interest of its people the matter was resolved,” he said.
He castigated the current coalition government for burdening the people by not buying Russian oil, “fearing the anger of their master”. He urged the nation to come out of their homes for the sake of their and their children’s future, and join the struggle against injustice.
“You cannot afford to remain neutral at this juncture; today, if you decided to remain neutral then all will be sorry. If the people do not stand up for their rights then the society will be governed by the law of jungle,” the former prime minister warned.
Referring to the coalition government, he said that he was perplexed over the establishment’s decision to hand over the country to the “thieves”. Continuing, he said that terrorism incidents had increased 53% while Pakistan was facing an economic meltdown, but this government did not have time to address the problems.