It’s official: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has arrived.
The chairman of the party, Imran Khan, addressed an enormous crowd at the Minar-e-Pakistan grounds in Lahore. Intelligence sources said that between 65,000 and 70,000 attended the rally, while PTI’s deputy information secretary claimed the figure was over 100,000. Journalists’ counts ranged from 60,000 to 70,000 people.
Other PTI leaders also spoke, taking the opportunity to knock the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party’s rivals in the Punjab heartland. Imran, however, focused more on his manifesto and vision for Pakistan.
Imran demanded that the PPP-led coalition government declare their assets, along with those of opposition parties. A failure to do so would launch the PTI on a civil disobedience movement across the country.
He said his party would form a special cell to probe assets owned by politicians in the country, adding that the PTI is ready to go to the Supreme Court to demand an independent election commission.
The former cricketer also outlined a 10-point agenda from his party, which he termed the only solution to the country’s current problems. The rally had an electric atmosphere, certainly aided by the large presence of the youth. In parts it had elements of a rock festival, as musicians, including Shehzad Roy, performed.
Imran said the gathering was the fruit of his 15 years of work in politics. With the support of the youth, he said, the political status quo in Pakistan could be broken up.
He also shed light on the choice of Lahore as the venue for the rally, referring to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah starting his movement for Pakistan from the same city.
Imran rebuked President Asif Ali Zardari for forgetting “Bhutto’s philosophy of socialism”. Instead, Khan said, Zardari had “promoted imperialism and around 16,000 people have committed suicide during his era.”
Khan also termed the PML-N’s gathering on October 28 as a ‘Patwari’ rally and mocked the Sharif brothers’ ambitions: “You could not kill the mosquito – how will you remove Zardari from the presidency”.
As a further warning to his political rivals, Khan declared: “Those in Raiwind and Islamabad should know that it is not a flood that is coming, but a tsunami.”
PTI’s 10-point programme
Khan vowed that if PTI came to power, it would end power crisis through coal reserves and by enhancing the capacity of generation plants.
Khan said that Rs3,000 billion is wasted every year due to corruption, and stated his party would end Pakistan’s “biggest problem” while also bringing back foreign assets lying in Swiss banks.
The party would wipe out all ‘Patwaris’ through computerised systems. Khan said that people in villages live like slaves due to corrupt Patwaris and police.
The PTI would devise a new local government system which would enhance education and health in villages.
He said the PTI would also ensure rights for Balochistan and end to target killings. Khan said his party would talk with Akhtar Mengal and the son of the Nawab of Kalat in this regard.
On terrorism, Khan termed the ‘war on terror’ as the US’ war and vowed to hang all those responsible for the deaths of 35,000 innocent Pakistanis. He said that there are one million armed people in the tribal areas who, if drone attacks stopped, would happily remove terrorists living in their areas. Khan added that the PTI would withdraw the military from the tribal areas.
On foreign policy, he said that his party would extend friendship to the US, but not at the cost of the country’s sovereignty – and would prefer to have close ties with China.
Regarding Kashmir, Khan said that he would convince India to withdraw its military from the disputed region and start negotiations with Kashmiri leaders.
He also said that the PTI would ensure the rights of minorities and labourers in the country, as well as empowering women through education.
(Read: Save Pakistan rally - High turnout raises hopes for change)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2011.
COMMENTS (114)
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I will come to Pakistan in 2013 just to vote for Imran Khan inshAllah. Probably one of the most expensive votes ever.
@nelta john: Who is funding all the traveling and the rallies? What is Imran's source of income over the past several years?
@Not me: Who will bell the cat. Even if assets are declared, is the public willing to force authorities to take action? Most senior politicians, bureaucrats and armed forces officials would have a lot of ill gotten gains. How will action be taken against the people who are supposed to take action against the corrupt?
Imran Khan Balochistan awaits you...you are our leader
please keep this out of the so called arab spring revolution era. Still time will tell the fate of the nations that had this revolution. Great in your opinion, but bad in my opinion. Most "revolutions" have just created increased insecurity and a bigger invitation to outside interference (yes, while the state and public is busy revolting, someone will be busy plundering our country). I am hopeful and wishful for change Imran will bring. But I fear the masses not to accomplish such a change in days. Hardwork takes months even years. But with commitment to a vision of a better pakistan (which also should be defined) will eventually get us to where we want without costing more lives, property, security (to us and our minorities). Tread carefully. Revolution is never the right term neither the right method. Better to HARD WORK without a gun to kill others (read: anti-revolutionists)
Kabhi Tsunami kabhi dengue....Imran Khan do you have any good words to speak?
@Nadir: Hi Nadir,
I understand your concerns, but we need to learn from history whereby 93% of this issues were solved with dialogue, and we are now watching that US trying to get safe exit with negotiations as well. Being loyal to my country and religion, I think, we should all spend our money for our future generations and PTI is the only platform which gives you hope to change that. That's why I myself along with thousands others in UK donate quite a good money to PTI on regular basis to run these rallies and change campaign. I congragulate to all Pakistanis, that slowly and gradullay we are moving towards a better Pakistan, all of us have to play their role, by casting vote not on the basis of caste, religion, race or bradarism or gaining some personal motives but on your own conscious, as you try to investigate and find the best school for your children, best dress for you wife, best doctor for your parents, best car for yourself etc. We need to practice the seem for our leaders as well. We cannot be irrelevant or sitting at home and just blaming politicians, bureaucracy, or foreign hands. We are to blame at first, and then others. So, please caste your vote under any cicumstances with best of your conscious and we will see things will start improving.@ All Imran Khan lovers
Will he be able to rule from Islamabad or process the orders from Rawalpindi ?
@Cautious: Where there is a will, there's a way.
The only man capable of and deserves to be elected this time. Go imran Go....!!!
Congratulations to all Pakistanis for someone finally is one the stage to recover Pakistan's lost ambition and self esteem. I would say where there is a will there is a way. And Imran Khan truly has that will and people believe in him as well. What you think of him? Sorry to say but the critics of Imran Khan are really thinking very low, yes at very low scale. Imran Khan is something a lot more than what they think about him. Some of the Khan's critics always said "he can't become a good politician though he is a very good cricketer and social worker". The critics of Khan are so low thinkers that Imran Khan yesterday stood infront of the whole establishment and corrupt leadership all alone. There is not even 1 single person in Pakistan of Imran Khan's status. Even now China is asking him to come and talk about how to save the region, imagine when Khan is in power what he will do with foreign policy and how he will speak and represent Pakistan in global forums? Not like any other, ever before, but yes Quaid-e-Azam.
When Khan will represent Pakistan on global forums, it will be Quaid Version 2.0 in 21st century and you will see how he will change the dynamics of Pakistan relations with the world. Specially when he will bring to justice the culprits of looting and destroying Pakistan and Innocent Pakistanis.
Pakistan Zindabad!
I appreciate the speech given by Imran Khan. These corrupt leaders must be given dead line for declaring their assets. Otherwise they must be punished badly.
@Cautious: Don't pull figures out of the air if you can't back them. The 30,000 figure given was for civilian deaths alone as confirmed by independent sources. As for the eradication of corruption ,the declaration of assets by politicians would go a long way in accomplishing that
@Malatesh: you alongwith you intellect can take the exit door until the change is witnessed!!!
Whe we talk about bad people(an I never support them) etc. and their actions, we must understand that our media is not in their hand so we can put any blame on anybody and they will have no voice to reply with. Any comments?
Thank You Imran Khan & PTI for igniting a hope for a better Tomorrow.
I have personally witnessed this historical show......and i strongly have a feeling that my grandsons (after 50 years) saying to their peers that our grandfather was a participant of PTI's 30 Oct 2011's great show at minto park showing a strenth of over 100,000 people.
@Nadir: I fund PTI for their political activities...PTI doesn't has the feudal and business tycoons to fund such rallies...we the ordinary people do that!
Bombastic... This should convert into votes as well.
Jast A Perfect Show Of Strength ...
@xOYA: Still remembering Musharraf...??
Please mobilize the masses to solve the country current problem, not waste the precious time amount and potential to criticize the others
All the statements given by Imran are Illogical, Impractical. On what bases Imran said he can 1.Stop corruption. 2.Bring Pakistani's Swiss account money. 3.Convince India to withdraw Military from Kashmir. 4.Hang all those responsible for the deaths of 35,000 innocent Pakistanis. ???? None of the above is possible.
Its time we should see new faces.
We want a new face, a third man, an honest man in the cruel world of politics (which is hard to find and difficult to survive). Hope, he is matured enough, hope he becomes the PM of Pakistan, hope he changes the picture of our beloved country, hope he does what he promises, hope he brings a better, good looking change, hope he follows the path of great Jinnah and changes the land of the pure as a most admired nation.
Imran Khan should also be given a chance to prove that he can do a bad job as well.
The phenomenal gathering has no doubt exceeded the threshold and achieved the critical mass!!!!!
This is the arrival of "Bahar-e-Pakistan!"
i was in a cafe during his speech..it was so crowdy but nt a single person was speakin everyone was listenin to him...wow man u won our hearts..GOD bless u ..we r all wid u...and my vote is just urs :)
We were eagerly waiting for this crucial change in the political history of Pakistan. MashaAllah we have got this change in the form of PTI. My vote, my love and my prayers are all with the great leader, Imran Khan. We love you very much.
Nelta must know that Imran khan spends about 14 million rupess yearly from his own income for Shaukat khanum hospital and NUML university. Why people trusted him with 2 billion rupess for flood effectees of 2010 because he is honest. He has built houses for those whose houses were whahsed away. INSHALLAH like Turkey AK Party PTI will bring about a positive change in the country.What ever he has promised so far he has dilivered. LONG LOVE PAKISTAN and Imran khan
My hometown of Chakwal was well represented in Lahore PTI Jalsa and we are ready to work with our brother from Mianwali for the betterment of ALL Pakistanis. But please remember that its the IDEA of Insaaf that we will fight for and not for the person..because Allah SWT can take a life at any moment but HIS orders do not change...Until the ordinary and the poor get INSAAF, you can forget about anything else...May Allah SWT help PTI in delivering a crushing blow to the aspirations of Chors, Luteras, Daakoos and their corrupt cronies...As a gesture of goodfaith, we will ask our PTI brothers to declare the assets of its own Party Officials FIRST as this will put a moral burden on the opposition of PTI..We know that PTI officials are a sincere and honest bunch of people and this shouldnt be that difficult to do...So lets create a 30 day effort to declare our assets and give the others 90 days to come clean or face the Civil Disobedience (CD) music...do not underestimate the CD as it can make a tryrant like Hosni Mubarak eat mud...so think before you discount IK's threat...May Allah help Pakistan in electing people who love their country and who will not SELL it for a few fist of dollars...
Mr. Nadir.. The details of the tax paid by the members of PTI are available from FBR.. Go have a look.. I dont know about others but myself have checked that Khan paid 1.8 million in taxes last year.. And the other questions that you are asking are very detailed ones.. You dont expect the political leaders to explain you every bit of their approach. He had several other things cover in his speech.. Although, the details of his policy actions are available on insaf.pk.. Have a look..
@nelta john: fine...then let the process start.
i would like to advise to IMRAN ,, when you specialy criticised PML-N every body suspected about you. may be it become your nagative point for your vote bank..
Vote for IMRAN KHAN. Pakistan's truly one hope!
Imran is being fully supported by the establishment and agencies!!!!!he will come to power..........
Good Jalsa with great Discipline.
What distinguishes PTI from the rest is its leader's VISION. Nations are built on vision. And i strongly believe that India is one of the best examples of this. Gandhi had a vision. Nehru translated the vision. Nehru started working towards setting up world class universities in India in 1948. These are the works of leaders which get translated into phenominal results.
Pakistan needs a leader. Pakistan HAS a leader. PTI is my only hope for the generations to come.
@tz I think people can talk about ummah with the title tight chuddi. Why are you obsessed?
Great show imran khan. Another rally in Karachi one in Peshawar Quetta and final in Islamabad.
Go Kaptaan
Talat Hussain, Pakistan today and many others have reported numbers to be above 150000+
It is wonderful to see the people of Pakistran want a right and a new direction for its furture.
@Nadir: We Pakistanis living abroad and i am sure many Pakistanis in Pakistan give money to PTI every month. They are short of money they need people like us to support.
Secondly i came to Pakistan especially to attend this JALSA. The gathering was more than 250,000 people 8000 students were performing the duty of security and controlling traffic and doing other services.
Its very easy to critisize on ET....
Imran Khan is trying to save Pakistan to make it a true Pakistan of Quaid Azam and Allama Iqbal so it is our responsiblity to VOTE him and our voice should be all over Pakistan ( Qadam bahrao Imran khan hum tumaray sath hai... Please spread this voice to every house/city/village of Pakistan and every where a PAKISTANI is Living..
Good going Imran Khan ... May Allah help Pakistan .. I request to young youth and all educated people of pakistan, please please must cast your vote coming election to Imran Khan.
Congratulations Imran Khan :)
heartening to see so many people coming out and giving a referendum against the current political system and dispensation. However, personally i am worried. There is too much Imran Khan Imran Khan and no Tehreek e Insaaf. I am not going to vote for Imran Khan. I want to vote for Tehreek e Insaf. What is the change here, same old personality centric politics. I expect Imran Khan to have better sense here. It's very easy to get swept by massive adulation. Many a man can stand adversity, true strength of character is power. Imran Khan and his followers should learn lesson and promote Tehreek instead of Imran Khan. Bhutto was more popular, what did he end up doing with this country ??
Brilliantly pulled off! Couldnt be more proud of PTI!
Imran Khan Give me your party ticket for Election.
@dr hasna akbar: Karachi should wake up as well.
good show!
Karachi should wake up as well@dr hasna akbar: @Think: Love you
I think Pakistanis should give a chance to Imran Khan since he has got a great vision and which if translated into action can bring about in making of a new Pakistan. We Indians wish best of luck to him and pray that peace and prosperity returns to this country under his leadership.
@Think: Love you
@TightChuddi:
pls change ur title if u want to talk about ummah.
Khan Sahab, you deserve my vote :) well done and keep up the good work!
Tsunami is supposed to be a destructive one, isn't ?
Biased count! Even someone sitting at home could tell the count was more than what this article is reporting
My heart was filled with joy and hope that Pakistan can go forward after listening to Imran Khan the other day. My vote goes to him. Pakistan Zindabad!!!!
I hope whatever he is saying he will be able to deliver, though i am not a Imran Khan(PTI) fan, nevertheless if he is honest, and loyal to the country may Allah give him success and make him as a saviour of our sinking country
overall,I like the guy he is truly a symbol of hope for our country except his unrealistic stance on war on terror and negotiation with taliban and other insurgent elements .Please remember what they did after the Swat deal with ANP. But if i will vote i will vote for him.
Well done PTI.
Vote for Musharraf . Others are all Puppets
To the corrupt politicians of Pakistan. " Game Over, Shape-up or Ship-out". Youth is out on the roads now.
congratulations lahories for finally realizing and waking up
I request Mr Khan to please lead the people of Pakistan with a true spirit and to save this beautiful country from corruption as a major sin.
The revolution in sub continent will come from Pakistan only. Good to see the history in the making. I am puzzled why the rally is dominated by men only. I hardly see any female in the rally. The engine of change in countries Pakistan and India should be driven by women.
@Was A Pakistani
You should be ashamed of yourself for being so pessimistic about Pakistan.....Pakistan is a great country and inshah ALLAH you will regret of opting this name "Was A Pakistani"
@ ET: Plz correcrt ur figures. The Washington Post, The Chicago Sun-Time & Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reports more than 10,0000 people at the jalsa.
It gives a hope - certainly its time to right track. As IK often mentioned, its not the matter of right or left politics, its right or wrong. Best of luck PTI and we love you.
and i must say, the baseless statements of various politicians regarding the PTI jalsa can be commented with one line " angoor khatay hein". Buck up team PTI
@Cautious: you will never get happy, you will always have problems with every one, stop criticizing.
Imran khan is the only true, sincere, honest & visionary leader of pakistan. Imran khan is the last hope of pakistan. Go ahead imran the youth of pakistan is with u.
@Shamyl: and if he fails will you wrap up Pakistan? Obviously there is no hope after that then better pull the plug.
Someone rightly said, it wasn't about numbers in the end (which by the way were no less than the patwaari rally) it was about passion!
There were about 200-250k people.
vote for imran khan
Express Tribune, please correct your figures. Your figure is hugely an understatement. The latest numbers quoted by intelligence agencies, journalists and PTI ranges from 150,000- 200,000 people!!!
It was a pleasure being there last evening, Mr Khan! We need to continue what we started yesterday.
Imran Man you screwed them so tightly :) 30 Oct marked 2 great events in history :
1) Altaf Proved his illegitimacy by Zardari 2) Imran Proved he is pure son of soil
Have you noticed that Mr Imran Khan , did not have a word for those who have ruled Pakistan for most of last 60 years and led it to wars and established a militaristic state and espoused the ideology that identfies Pakistan today ? Mr Imran Khan is the latest candidate of the establishment that has made Pakistan what it's today.
Khan has shown his power with diginity and honesty. Todays his comprehensive speech shown him as Mature and true leader of Pakistan. Welcome Khan we are with you.
Let us hope Imran's party wins the next elections and forms the government. Hopefully he will steer Pakistan away from the path of terrorism and send the army to barracks. We all pray for his good health and political success. Since Pakistan has a history of political murders of popular leaders, Imran should take all possible precautions for his personal safety. His political enemies can go to any extent and therefore he should factor this into his security.
independent media is estimating over 100000 thousand people in the jalsa.
This is what you call a true Rally.......watch out PPP, PML, MQM and others....people of Pakistan has spoken. If a common man can come out to join his cause....they will come out to vote him too.....He is going to change the face of politics in Pakistan. I dont think that at least in Lahore he need electables. All thanks to the corrupt politicians and political parties of Paksitan who made Imran Khan a True leader. Do we have any better option?........No. Will PML-N, PML-Q, PPP, MQM, ANP, JI, JUI...be able to mend their ways and put Pakistan to the road of success?.....I have my serious doubts. Thats why we need a new Platform through which we can bring a change, and so far that is PTI. Who cares about PML-N vote bank..and..who cares about current govt taking over again.......All we have to care about is to initiate the process and struggle of peaceful change honestly under sincere leadership and mend our ways as individual, be law abiding citizens as true muslims and let nature takes its course.Truely, Imran is a Hope......A Hope for prosperous and successful Pakistan. The Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah struggled for.The Pakistan we all think about. Pakistan Zindabad.
Kaptaan, your rally in lahore was most successful which made the nawaz league people sleepless. Now, you must start doing home-work for the post-election government which you are certainly going to head. Pick up suitable prospective candidates in each constituency and startm grooming them to become proud members of new parliament.
It was a wonderful sight to see. A truly remarkable experience. May Allah Bless him and all of Pakistan. Ameen.
Where can I see a list of assets of all the PTI leaders? Since we are talking about transparency and declaring assets. How much tax did they pay..and who is paying for all these rallies? They are a million armed people who will happily remove foreign terrorists? Why didn't they do so in 2004 and 2005 when they signed agreements to do the same with the Musharaf regime? Why didnt they get rid of them before the drone strikes even started? What about the terrorists in Dir and Malakand, did they act up because of drone strikes? What about all the anti-Taliban lashkars, are you going to leave them high and dry once you withdraw the military? The Pakistani military deals with the US and tacitly supports the drone strikes. What kind of revolution is this where you dont even place the blame where it is due? You will convince India to remove its military from the disputed territory? Thats the plan? how will that happen? Why would they listen to you? How about starting by asking our own military to be accountable to civilian authority?
I only ask these questions because the PTI and Imran Khan claim to be a new kind of politics. Any other poltician saying these things would just be rhetoric and talking points, but since the PTI actually believes that he will deliver on all of this then please elaborate?
Imran Khan has not yet been in power that is why he does not have money in Swiss banks.. Politicans fool the masses with words such as change especially when in opposition. Change does come overnight it is a process.
How can you not like a leader like this one?
Express Tribune, a blind man could tell there was WELL, and i mean WELL over 150,000 people there. PMLN held a rally in such a congested place and there were reports between 50-75K present there, and you are estimating the same virtually for the PTI's rally. Please, call a spade a spade.
Congratulations Imran Khan.You are our only hope.Lets break the status quo.. yes we can!
Good showing by Imran Khan, if perhaps a bit too idealistic and bombastic. He might do well in the internal arena but his reactionary approach to foreign relations left much to be desired.
ET: Can we get a higher res image to gauge the size of the crowd?
Finally, the revolution has come to Pakistan! Now Pak is truly part of the ummah!