Imran to hit campaign trail from Saturday

LAHORE:

Following the Supreme Court (SC) directives of conducting elections within 90 days, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday announced he will kick-start electioneering in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) from Saturday.

Addressing the nation via video link from his Zaman Park residence, he advised party workers to fasten their belts and start preparations for upcoming elections. PTI would not let the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) “run away” from the elections, he added.

Hailing the decision of the apex court, the former premier congratulated the nation and said that the top court has upheld the supremacy of the Constitution through its historic judgment.

He underscored that a neutral and upright judiciary never suited the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) because it cannot protect their interest or give decisions as per their wishes. He said that “mafias” in Pakistan have deprived the people of their human rights.

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Speaking about the Toshakhana case, Imran explained that before his government, on the payment of a mere 15 percent, the previous rulers used to get all gifts given from foreign countries, but the PTI increased the payment to 50 percent.

"I paid 50 percent of the amount and bought items and now they are my property and I will do whatever I like,” he said.

However, he noted, corruption cases of billions of rupees against the Sharifs and the Zardaris have been ended. He further said that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari had bought cars from Toshakhana, having paid only 15 percent of the amount, which was totally “illegal”.

He remarked that no case was being heard against them and their corruption cases had been waived off.

He maintained that his life is still under threat, adding that he could be attacked again and might be killed. On the other hand, cases are being registered every day and he is being asked to appear before the court for every fake case despite serious threats, he highlighted.

Earlier in the day, after the top court’s verdict, Imran announced the suspension of the “Jail Bharo” movement.

Also read: Punjab, K-P election delay petition 'rejected' by 4-3: law minister

In a statement on Twitter, the PTI chief said that he welcomes the decision of the SC on the suo motu notice related to the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

“It was the responsibility of the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution, which it has fulfilled with today's decision. This is the implementation of law in Pakistan,” he remarked.

Imran further said that while they were suspending the court arrest movement, they will now conduct an election campaign in K-P and Punjab.

Apart from this, an important meeting was held under the chairmanship of the PTI chief, in which central leaders and party spokespersons participated.

In the meeting, a detailed discussion was held on the attacks on the judiciary and judges.

PTI strongly welcomed the decision of the apex court and strongly condemned the attacks on the judiciary, especially the judges of the SC, under the “patronage” of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The opposition party expressed strong displeasure over the misleading interpretations of the court order by the federal government, especially the law minister and the attorney general, and asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Punjab and K-P within 90 days in light of the spirit of the Constitution and the order of the Supreme Court.

It also demanded immediate announcement of election schedule.

Imran said that a group on the path of clear deviation from democracy and the constitution is attacking the judiciary.

He alleged that the PDM made a reprehensible attempt to put pressure on the court through a shameful campaign against the honorable judges under the “supervision” of the prime minister.

He added that the “gang” has a dark history of buying judges and armed invasion of courts.

The former premier said that honorable judges deserve tribute for fighting off the pressure and conspiracies with courage and maintaining the constitution.

He said that they will not accept any attempt to deviate from the Constitution now or in the future.

Imran said that “shameful fascism” had been shown by establishing cases of terrorism against the citizens and workers who came out to welcome him in a very peaceful manner on Wednesday.

The nation was not afraid of these tactics before and will not be intimidated in the future, he declared.

He pointed out that on the one hand, fundamental rights are violated, and on the other, this “incompetent and corrupt group” is brutally crushing the people under the worst inflation.

The former premier said that conducting clean and transparent elections at the national level without delay is the only strategy to get the country out of crises.

No strategy to delay elections or avoid facing the people will succeed, he declared.

Separately, former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi met Imran at his Zaman Park residence and congratulated him on the apex court’s decision.

They held consultations on the future action plan of the party and agreed to immediately speed up electoral activities in Punjab and K-P.

Elahi said that after the decision of the top court, the relevant institutions should take steps for implementation without delay, and PDM should also know that the Constitution is supreme.

The country has to run according to the constitution and not on the wishes of Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif or Maryam Nawaz, he declared.

He also called on the judiciary to take notice of Maryam’s attacks on the institution.

Elahi said that Shahbaz, Maryam and others tried hard to “run” away from the election, and attacking institutions is an “old habit” of theirs.

He hoped that the ECP will issue the date and schedule of the election without delay after consultation with the president and the governor of K-P.

The former CM said that PTI fought for the elections in every forum, and also raised its voice in public and fought the case on the platform of the judiciary.

Now, God willing, Imran will form governments with an even greater majority in Punjab and K-P, he hoped.

He claimed the PDM does not have the “courage” to compete with Imran’s political popularity.

Elahi said that cases are being made on the basis of revenge every day and accused Shahbaz of setting a record of false cases.

Even Imran cannot stop the terrorism cases against PTI leadership, he pointed out.

Whether it is Imran Khan or the central leadership or the workers, all are standing firm in front of the “fascism” of this government, he declared.