A file photo of Imran Khan during a conference. PHOTO: PPI / FILE
LAHORE: Thanking Tahirul Qadri for inviting Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to join his long march, PTI Chairman Imran Khan reiterated his stance of putting protests on hold until the caretaker setup was formed.
Imran said this while presiding over a party meeting on Wednesday held to review the offer made by Qadri.
“Protests will only help the government in the current scenario,” he said.
Imran also said that immediate free and fair elections under a neutral caretaker government was the only way out of the current crisis.
“Early elections have become even more necessary because of the constitutional crisis in Balochistan, the overall deteriorating law and order situation, Indian aggression on the Line of Control and the anger prevailing in the nation,” Imran was quoted in a press release.
The party leaders added that the PTI’s seven point agenda was a road map to free and fair election.
“PTI members should be ready for a tsunami march in case conditions are not created for an election that will be accepted by everybody,” the statement further said.
Expressing his fears of back door dealings for the formation of interim setup, Imran said any such move would be resisted with the power of the people.
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LONG LIVE IMRAN KHAN Long Live Pakistan LONG LIVE THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF OUR PAKISTAN
i am quiting from imran pti memebership is this the way whe time come of change imran show his back for that that we were supporting imran khan no he has become a status co party but no change we will again see fake degree holders and non tax people in parliment imran has broken our hearts
guys dont expect any change in future becuase imran is not for common people has has found a new private plane to fly and status why he will get change.
hate you pti
Shame on you Imran
Imran Khan you have disappointed big way by not coming out openely and not favoring Tahir ul Qadri's demands of election reforms to ensure blocking the corrupt politicians coming again . Forget about your Tsunami now. You have been hijacked by the nothing doing old guards of PPP and PML now sitting with you. You will be made nobody by the rest of the politicians. Forget about your demand of free and fair elections which will be a dream now. You have lost a golden opportunity to raise your voice. Shame on you.
This is the best decision in the long term. PTI withstood a lot of pressure and showed a lot of maturity! Support democracy even when it seems horrible because in the long run, our democratic system will straighten out and show real benefits. Be patient and trust IK. I was starting to doubt him and PTI but after this, I am more convinced than I have ever been that this is the kind of leadership that I want for my country- strong, dispassionate and with a long term vision. Vote for PTI !
@Ahsan: Just two months remain of this government and you want to give shahadat to this government. Use your brain, all of us have tolerated this government for 4 year 10 months and now you want to give excuse to this government which they will try to cash in coming elections.
very disappointing move by PTI, they should have joined Qadri and increased pressure on the governement
Today I must admit that Imran Khan has to be admired as a politician too! No more short cuts. Free and fair elections should be held in Pakistan and democracy should prevail. TUQ is a form of pressure group, not much else. No need to oppose his effort but he is not a serious contender in a future political scenario. It is best if Qadri Sahib uses his knowledge about religion to counter the madmen and murderers who have become Islam's un-appointed guardians in the country. I don't care if PTI wins just 5 seats (hopefully they will do better) in the National Assembly during these coming elections. The democratic system needs to be preserved. And the security in the country (or lack of it) needs to be evaluated in Pindi and not Islamabad.
First wise decision of his political life, but still not clear whether its revenge of his knock out or he is held back by establishment for another time.
Great decision by imran khan
Kaptan you have already lost it for me after this! This country is lacking leadership and that was the golden chance to seize the opportunity.
IK, I swear to ensure you defeat in Islamabad, if u leave those poor under the open sky tonight. Its time for you to smash this tyranny of so called democratic government. Wake up lest it is late. Help that aging scholar come out of some ISHQ. Those poor people are with Qadri Sb a change.
To Everyone,
Imran's demands are very similar to TuQ. Lets see how he gets them implemented.
Wise decision. Vote for pti. IK chose the democratic way.
Far sighted decision of the @ImranKhanPTI. Brilliant
Aslum-ulaekum: I am student of 1st year of Pre-Medical and age 17 years I don't know who is right and who is wrong but why all political parties and Electric Media playing with nation ?? I am very afriad beacuse every our right are dicreasing they ignoring, why? wht is our sin can anyone tell me everyday we are deying and we are not safe for few minutes : plz don't play with us :O Quadi Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Gave us Freedom Country but now this time we feel we are not free My leader Baba aey Quam is right but the leagues now is not right plz leave us lone In this Country Many persons are poor and they deserve for help : i hope u Understand wht i want to say u all :
Wow Imran Khan sahib you were talking about change....when you accepted people like Jehangir Tareen,Asad Umar,Shah Mehmood Qureshi,Shafqat Mehmood,Javed Hashmi and Khursheed Kasuri we all tolerated because your party needed experienced people. But what happened next......your one of them now: A STATUS QUO PLAYER
Today you have saved a democracy that has made a mockery of our mandate, you have saved a democracy in which people lost their lives and the government did nothing, you have saved a democracy which had so many corruption scandals and which had fake degree holders,tax theives and 2 corrupt PM's and a corrupt president who was violating a consitution by holding 2 offices and all of these trolls defend a consitution that gives immunity to a president and PM from all sorts of corruption and a normal man goes to jail. Where is that Quaid e Azam's Pakistan, Naya Pakistan, TSUNAMI flair?
No doubts you were a great captain and made us proud in 1992 and by the cancer hospital but now what we all see is a 2 faced politician. You chose democracy over the people of this country. No one cares about Tahir ul Qadri's fate but you have written your own fate for these elections because the people who wanted to vote wont come out.
PTI and MQM will never get a chance like this to root out corrupt status quo in the country what both have been crying about for years. Both should support Dr. Qadri. Only having election is not the answer but honest and trustworthy people contesting per the constitution is the way to get rid of feudal lords and mafia out of the system. What Dr. Qadri emphasizing is constitutional and just and every democracy loving person must support him.
IK is my man--but today qadri [good or bad]have one upped him !! i hope IK can send volunteers with food/blankets/portable toilets/medicines etc. to support the women & little kids --that is human service !!!
IK should have joined Dr.Qadri, disappointed!
Imran Khan has taken the right step. When the elections are just ahead, why shout now to derail the government??? There is no law in the book that U take 60/70 thousand people with U and order the chosen government to step down, dissolve the assemblies, do as U say and come kneeling to your feet. And a person like Qadri, who changes his statements like Rehman Malik, lies every minute, puts to stake the life of thousands and himself rests comfortably in a bomb proof mini hotel suite like container costing 4 million rupees, what can U expect of him??? Only destabilizing the current situation of the country to more more nd more worse. 3 days without business in twin cities...... can you imagine the loss??? And still some of us want Imran Khan to join that half pope, half Canadian clown who is fooling everyone around in the name of revolution!!! Where was he when nation was suffering, under attack by drones, had scarcity of food, electricity, gas, CNG and other usables???? Imran has been here sleeping on the stage with other people when he marched towards Waziristan. Talking of those things possible under frame of law. So, please analyze thoroughly characters, wordings nd actions of both, then comment whether a lier should be supported however his action maybe????
Good Imran now be Part of "Jurloo Election" Now
But imagine a scenario. There are already 4 national based opposition parties namely the PML of Nawaz, Imran Khan, Qadri and the Mullah Brigade, Finally umpteen regional and sub regional parties in the local level. Now what would happen to the anti incumbency vote, for me it appears to be divided into at least 3 or 4 blocks. And if an appropriate alliance is not stitched, then voila, this is indeed a possibility. Which means the ruling establishment would be elected back to power. But would the Army play ball or play coy. Certainly, we have not read the last of it. Regards P
Democracy saving decision, hope the change which masses are expecting shall be materialised in coming elections
Tahir-ul- Qadri & Imran Khan can't be possibly at one rally Because U can't keep Imran Khan inside the container & U Can't bring TUQ out of the Container:
Tahir-ul-Qadri u need a Heart of a lion to become like Imran Khan.
Come out from the Container and Lead the March like a common Man.
It really is a coward decision by Imran Khan. Very sad. Qadri and enlightened people of Pakistan needed your support Khan Sahib. It really is the time to shun the democracy of hypocrisy.
@ahsan, i second u bro... he lost my vote too!!! status quo parties united and the only one who is for change is TUQ.. So sad:(
Imran, you will regret your decision all your life. This is the time for change. You asked for change, so why not support him???
Mature decision by Ik
Imran Khan please go to the site where lone prodigious religious scholar is sitting with neonates, children, women, old men and weak saying the right at wrong time. Pursuade him to leave for the time being. Please it is a request, they are suffering a lot due to all sectarian political broken reeds. Go, right now, be mindful of these facts. Keep your negotiations with that man. It reminds me of those fanatics who left their homes in 1947. Go and seize the opportunity to win the hearts
We talk about change all and time and demand it but when the time comes we abandon it and let the corrupt elite stay in power.
Very disappointed in Imran Khan. This is a sad day in Pakistan's history. I no longer support Imran Khan.
Imran Khan please go to the site where lone prodigious religious scholar is sitting with neonates, children, women, old men and weak saying the right at wrong time. Pursuade him to leave for the time being. Please it is a request, they are suffering a lot due to all sectarian political broken reeds. Go, right now, be mindful of these facts. Keep your negotiations with that man. It reminds me of those fanatics who left their homes in 1947. Go and seize the opportunity to win the hearts.
I would say a decision that will shut the mouths of undemocratic forces. We will vote for this great Leader Insha-Allah, Leader of Pakistan. Great decision Imran khan.
Yes a good master stroke indeed. Mr Qadri Ideally should have band wagoned - piggybacked on IK, but here is a guy who has come on the political stage/ theater only a week or a fortnight ago and giving an offer to some one who is on the scene for many years. It like minority stake holder making a hostile bid to take over the majority of a company. In business parleys What Mr IK has built is a greenfield project (from the scratch) and what Mr Qadri is trying to do is a brown field project (acquire an already ready built project, without being associated in the initial phase) Rgds P
@sabi...are you sure, look at the history and then comment. You are doubting the ability of a leader who leads thousands of people to Waziristan. Don't comment out of hatred but learn to acknowledge the facts. He has ability and capacity to bring millions on the street.
Wise decision
@atif: Does "not actively destroying democracy" equal "saving democracy" now?
So happy to see this decision. You are an honest and wise leader. Lets hope this Pakistan nation also understand this and elect PTI in upcoming eclections
tahir ul qadri has spoken lie, many times. And it is on record so honest decision by imran khan
@sabi: I'm sure you will take your words back :-)
GOOD DECISION IMRAN.....THXS A LOT.
Dear Khan Sb,
You advocated change, I belived you, You bycoted elections on the premise that rigging was widespread I belived you, Khan sb you said you would bring change throuigh Grand Tsunami I belived you. Now when the majority of common Pakistani saw a ray of hope in the stance taken by Qadri sb and my gut hope was that you should come forward and join the effort of so many men & women ( even though the initative was taken by Minah jul Quran but credit definatly would have come your way) but alas instead you decided to support status quo. I along with all my family were PTI supporters but am very dissapointed in your decesion to give Oxygen to the present Goverment. It's a sad day Khan sb
@atif:
“Protests will only help the government in the current scenario,” he said.
So basically, if the govt was guaranteed to fall had Imran Khan said yes to the long march, he would be all for it. Which means your underlying point of him saving democracy is incorrect.
I hope Zardari accepts his demand and steps down, and then gets re-elected to remain president for five more years. I'd love to see the khaki-backed Imran Khan explain that to his supporters.
i will not agree.if imran would have joined democracy would have prevailed and a caretaker set up would have formed early.second a better election commision would have reformed.thirdly he would have won hearts of more pakistanis as this would have been a daring move!!!against all odds of current political mafia!!he has sided with the rotten system in the end!.how he saved democrasy i don t know.by supporting some one who may be a thief but who is saying the truth does not make u inferior! its not game of ego or taking the credit! its beyond that for a cause for the truth for the right of the people of Pakistan i don t know qadri sb but he is saying the TRUTH.
note : i am not member of TMQ and what ever i say i say it unbiased with free mind.
I don't think that WE the People's of Pakistan deserves democracy so Mr Qadri's long march would be a helping hand in establishment of Marshal Law because all law and order maintaining departments have faced a big failure since last 4.5 years and I don't think that any of you should disagree with that.
Imran does not want Qadri to succeed because he only wants change to happen in a way where he gets all the credit and not anybody else.
He refuses to join Qadri's march which is also focused on bringing a neutral caretaker government. Imran's demand is the same. So, why not join?
Its a really confused, muddled stance as usual, kind of here and there, as per typical IK style: feel the waters, look around at what everyone is saying, then pick the most politically favourable stance, try to win everyone over all at once by not being very clear at all. No real principals or ideals or backbone or conviction. Flippety flop.
But in the end the Imran Khan coin has managed to land the right way up after spinning for quite a bit, so hurrah Imran Khan.
Good & wise move.
You have disappointed once again Captain
Very mature decision by PTI, the last hope for Pakistan !!
I think its a great decision from Imran Khan. Its evident that Qadri is implanted by background forces to create a stir and dilute democracy in the name of righteousness. Imran Khan has shown tremendous maturity in identifying the same and he does not want to derail his fight for short term benefits. He and PTI has exhibited great vision in realizing that people can question and criticize his policies, but they are not going to question his legitimacy when he comes to power through democratic elections and not shoddy revolutions.
IK ain't going to get more than 10-15 seats. Lost a golden opportunity to lead a change in the electoral process offering newer faces a chance to get elected. IK is becoming a member of the status quo band of brothers. No chance now for him and his party.
I can finally say "ThankYou" to ImranKhan ..
This a wise descion by IK.And futhermore ,realisation that bringing people on street on mass scale is beyond the scope of PTI.
some may agree some may disagree...the reality is imran khan saved democracy today...
And this is why this guy is my leader!