Karachi rally will make people forget Egypt: Imran
Party chief warns of bloodshed in country if elections are not free and fair.
SUKKUR:
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan says nothing can stop him from holding a rally in Karachi on December 25.
Addressing a press conference in Sukkur on Monday morning, Imran said: “Even if there is a war, a public meeting will be held in Karachi on that day,” adding that his party’s ‘tsunami’ can not be stopped. “The December 25 rally will make people forget Egypt,” Imran claimed.
Pakistan is not divided on ethnic lines and the division is only between the oppressor and the oppressed, he said. “The powerful can do whatever they like, while the oppressed are deprived of their rights,” the PTI chief said. He promised that when PTI is in power there will be no armed group in the country.
Referring to his accomplishments as the Pakistan cricket team captain, Khan said that allegations of match-fixing were levelled against the team two years ahead of his captaincy, but there was no such allegation during the 10 years he was captain.
“When higher authorities are as corrupt as Zardari and Gilani, everything goes wrong and when they (authorities) are honest and sincere, everything is smooth,” he said.
Imran said that President Asif Ali Zardari has caused great damage to the reputation of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Army dictators have tried to harm the PPP’s interests, but they have not able to do what Zardari has, he added, further claiming that many influential politicians from the ruling PPP will be joining the PTI shortly.
Reiterating his belief that corruption is the biggest problem in the country, Imran said, “There is no money to run day-to-day business of the country and Pakistan is on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Holding free and fair elections under President Zardari is impossible because he does not believe in honesty, Imran said, further warning that if general elections are not held in a free and fair manner, there will be bloodshed.
“Their (the PPP’s) coalition partners complained of rigging in the Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir elections,” the PTI chief said.
When asked whether his opponents will target his personal life as they have in the past, Imran said: “Yes they will, but this time the repercussions will be stronger and dangerous”. “I am not an angel, but yes, I am an angel when compared to them (other politicians),” he added.
The PTI chief is riding high these days as he gains more political support from different parties. Sunday was a big day for his party after former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi joined the PTI amid much fanfare. Marvi Memon, former parliamentarian of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, is still debating on whether to join the PTI, but sources close to the politician said she is likely to make the move in the next few days.
After the press briefing, Imran left for Chak town to offering condolences to the families of three Hindus killed in Shikarpur on Eid day.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2011.
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan says nothing can stop him from holding a rally in Karachi on December 25.
Addressing a press conference in Sukkur on Monday morning, Imran said: “Even if there is a war, a public meeting will be held in Karachi on that day,” adding that his party’s ‘tsunami’ can not be stopped. “The December 25 rally will make people forget Egypt,” Imran claimed.
Pakistan is not divided on ethnic lines and the division is only between the oppressor and the oppressed, he said. “The powerful can do whatever they like, while the oppressed are deprived of their rights,” the PTI chief said. He promised that when PTI is in power there will be no armed group in the country.
Referring to his accomplishments as the Pakistan cricket team captain, Khan said that allegations of match-fixing were levelled against the team two years ahead of his captaincy, but there was no such allegation during the 10 years he was captain.
“When higher authorities are as corrupt as Zardari and Gilani, everything goes wrong and when they (authorities) are honest and sincere, everything is smooth,” he said.
Imran said that President Asif Ali Zardari has caused great damage to the reputation of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Army dictators have tried to harm the PPP’s interests, but they have not able to do what Zardari has, he added, further claiming that many influential politicians from the ruling PPP will be joining the PTI shortly.
Reiterating his belief that corruption is the biggest problem in the country, Imran said, “There is no money to run day-to-day business of the country and Pakistan is on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Holding free and fair elections under President Zardari is impossible because he does not believe in honesty, Imran said, further warning that if general elections are not held in a free and fair manner, there will be bloodshed.
“Their (the PPP’s) coalition partners complained of rigging in the Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir elections,” the PTI chief said.
When asked whether his opponents will target his personal life as they have in the past, Imran said: “Yes they will, but this time the repercussions will be stronger and dangerous”. “I am not an angel, but yes, I am an angel when compared to them (other politicians),” he added.
The PTI chief is riding high these days as he gains more political support from different parties. Sunday was a big day for his party after former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi joined the PTI amid much fanfare. Marvi Memon, former parliamentarian of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, is still debating on whether to join the PTI, but sources close to the politician said she is likely to make the move in the next few days.
After the press briefing, Imran left for Chak town to offering condolences to the families of three Hindus killed in Shikarpur on Eid day.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2011.