Despite the internet blockade across major cities in the country, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) set another benchmark in the political history of the nation by holding the first-ever virtual public gathering on social media platforms on Sunday night.
The event was addressed by founding party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan, currently incarcerated in Adiala jail, through a speech crafted using artifical intelligence (AI).
The audio clip, marred by internet disruptions, was played over the AI-generated image which appears to be speaking.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan also addressed an estimated one million concurrent users worldwide, spanning across Asia, Europe, and America.
Read Imran 'picks' Barrister Gohar for PTI chairman slot
The PTI chief unveiled the party's 150-page manifesto, promising extensive reforms in the judiciary, executive, police, and policies for overseas Pakistanis.The party will soon announce its manifesto as the election schedule has been announced.However, as anticipation built for the virtual rally, internet monitoring service Netblocks reported a widespread disruption in major social media platforms across Pakistan, including X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The disruption, hitting the nation just before the scheduled 9 p.m. rally, led to difficulties accessing these platforms in key cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. Users also reported a notable slowdown in internet services during this period.
Addressing the rally, Barrister Gohar Khan highlighted that over 180 bogus cases had been registered against Imran Khan.
“The party had to take this interim measure to nominate me as chairman to save the party’s election identity as advised by the founder chairman. I am speaking on behalf of Imran Khan.” He once again appealed to the Supreme Court to nominate RO and DRO from the judiciary as the biggest political party of the country lacks confidence in the caretaker government while considering its recent actions against the PTI.
He also highlighted double standards in the judicial system of the country while pointing out discrimination by the courts' treatment of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan.
PTI's social media team also played a video-recorded message of Imran Khan in which he appealed to overseas Pakistanis to donate to the PTI for general elections. Imran Khan told his supporters that he needed their support for financial assistance to win this big election.
He said: “I once again need your support as you supported me in the past.” PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub said a website (PakistanBadlo.Overseas.com) for donations had been live and people from all over the world should generously donate to their beloved party for upcoming elections.
He honoured the inaugural virtual public gathering in remembrance of the fallen heroes of the Pakistan Army, Rangers, Police, PTI martyrs, incarcerated women, and all individuals who endured hardships to advocate for the right side of history. He urged the citizens of Pakistan to turn out in force on February 8 and cast their votes in favour of PTI, emphasising that this choice would pave the way for a brighter future for the nation.
Read more PTI demands equal footing in election campaign
"Our party is not allowed to hold public rallies," Imran said in the clip, urging supporters to turn out in large numbers at general elections.
He said that through the strength of their votes, the people of Pakistan hold the key not only to liberate Imran Khan but also to reinstate him as the prime minister, shaping the country's destiny. He emphasised that with the power of the vote, the people of Pakistan will level the field on February 8 which is currently uneven for the PTI.
He also paid rich tributes to PTI women, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Aliya Hamza, Tayyaba Raja, and others who were facing hardships in jail, and said all these people were fighting for the bright future of Pakistan. They were not facing hardships for mere seats and ministries.
Other senior leaders of the party, including Senator Azam Khan Swati, Ali Amin Gandapur, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, Hammad Azhar, Rauf Hasan, Zartaj Gul Wazir, Ali Muhammad Khan and others addressed the public gathering.Initially, it was announced that the virtual public gathering would end in three hours but it concluded at 1:30 am after four and a half hours.
Murtaza Solangi, information minister in Pakistan's caretaker government assigned to supervise the elections, and suspected by the PTI to be favouring Imran's opponents, said the query on internet disruptions could be referred to the telecom regulator or the ministry of information technology, saying, "I have no information about it."
He, however, didn't respond to whether it was a violation of free speech and assembly mandated by election laws for a free and fair voting, which in this case could be a pre-poll rigging.
With additional reporting from Reuters
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