Stepping up: Imran mulls civil disobedience

Party to discuss options to mobilise the public at its next meeting.

ISLAMABAD: The rising political force has decided to take it up a notch.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said he would escalate pressure on the government to step out, or face a ‘civil disobedience movement’.

The party’s central executive committee will discuss various options to mobilise the public against the incumbent government, including a civil disobedience movement, at its next meeting on January 14, Imran said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The government has failed to resolve public issues, and “is backtracking on all accounts — economy, defence, good governance and its policies,” Imran said.

“We are considering large-scale strikes and acts of civil disobedience, including surrounding the President and Prime Minister houses,” Khan said.

The CEC would also discuss party’s internal issues, including nomination of office bearers, fielding of candidates in important constituencies and future strategy for kicking off a new campaign for registration of workers, Imran added.

“Over two dozen new members will be the part of the CEC from January 14,” a senior party leader told The Express Tribune. “Majority of them are former lawmakers who have recently joined the party,” he added.

Imran ruled out an alliance with Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League in the next general elections. On his own support to the former president’s referendum, Imran said it was a mistake: “I feel sorry for this wrong act.”

He also confirmed his contacts with former Sindh home minister Sindh Zulfiqar Mirza but rejected reports about contacting Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain and Fatima Bhutto.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.