Khan says there was a lot of pressure from party members to join Qadri’s long march, however, he told his followers to wait for the “right time”. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Khan said that he had kept his party members on standby for the protest, which is why, he said, he had earlier announced a 7-point agenda.
“Being a political party, we hold the right to lodge protests. About two million people in the United Kingdom took to the streets in order to protest the Iraq killings,” said Khan.
He said that there was a lot of pressure on him from his party members to join Minhajul Quran International chief Qadri’s long march, however, he said that he told his followers to wait for the “right time”.
Khan said that he will lead the protest “only to get free and fair elections conducted in the country.”
Responding to a question, the PTI chief said that there was “no question” of boycotting the elections, because “the upcoming elections are the most important throughout Pakistan’s electoral history.”
While talking about a caretaker setup to be put in place, Khan said that all political parties should sit together to deliberate upon the issue and that the caretaker prime minister should be the one agreed upon by all the parties.
However, he said that so far, no one had approached his party to discuss the caretaker setup.
COMMENTS (112)
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When Khan is going to start protest???? it has been 1 month over. Is he also playing emotional slogans like others??????????
I K only focus on political campaign and elections.
Imran Khan is a true hero. We want to get rid of family parties and hope you will cleanup political dirt from our country. Go ahead IK, our trust and vote is for you.
I'm voting for PTI and not just Imran khan. PTI= change
PTI is a way to Go
@In Fact: I think its very naive of you to think this way. It just shows that you are desperate enough to follow just about anyone including Qadri whether there is merit to that or not. So what was it? A big spectacle? And what? Result? A revolutionary who talked to the government reps who he called ex-government just a few hours ago. A revolutionary who had all of the facilities ih semi-trailer whereas his followers were waiting for his call outside in cold. He took all these people to Islamabad to talk? C'mon guys, wake up, think, dont just jump up and down. IK is struggling for Pakistan for 16+ years, and you think he missed the boat just by not giving a nod to Qadri. Qadri saheb's march went to Islamabad, stayed there for a while and was dispersed. IK's Tsunami would go to Islamabad and destroy the so-called leaders who have taken refuge there.
I am a registered member of your party... Khan Sahib! we want to see some action from your side...I know quite a few people from the bussiness community who were your diehard followers but, but they are very much offended and many of them have left your party...everyone was waiting to see your tsunami to come and destroy the present govt., but nothing happened and tsunami proved to be just " A Paani Da Bulbula ".
We are all ready for your call Kaptaan ! PTI all the way InshAllah !
All the above comments are by the people who are trying to be burgers or wannabees. And by seeing all the comments I have came across with an example of an infant child who always cries until he gets his feeder and then sleeps. Eventually wisdom and thoughtful things are not expected from kids. Way to go !!! "Wannabees" !
WHY did the govt., provide sanitary staff for Qadri's marchers? If none, MARCH would've been over the next day............!
A good move Mr Khan, you can do better than Dr Quadri by managing a bigger gathering and make such demands which cannot be agreed by the govt. One of the demands can be to make you the care-taker PM for 90 days to remove corruption and terrorism before the elections takes place which is unlikely and people shall be voting for you.
Are you serious! you can still hepl Qadri saheb to finish what he started.
as if the reason for protest is to make news ... i wonder if any politician really cares for this forsaken nation
The GHQ has lost direction and is flip flopping about like a 'fish out of water.' IK, Altaf, Qadri and S. Rashid to take on the mantle of the new Pakistan and drive these mullahs, nationalists, extremists and dummy politicians out of Pakistan. Salams 2013
Protest against what?........long awaited electoral process?......are you trying to run away from elections, once again, after reading the written on the wall?
Why not convince people to actually 'vote' for you? You won't need any protests if they did.
Lost hope in IK! A total disappointment and failure. Empty vessel makes most noise. My vote is for former President Musharraf. At least he is honest with this country! I wish him well!
Why does Imran Khan think he should be consulted on the caretaker setup...someone should tell him he doesn't have any real political presence!!! lol
PTI has lost the time to protest along with Dr Quadri. THe was the best oppurtunity. Imran has is not matured and lacks in political vision.He is an honest man but we want an action against the corrupt electoral system which is sending the criminals and dishonest persons to the assembly. If the elections are held without change in the election commission then the resuls will be same as of last election and almost 60% of the seats will be taken by the corrupt politicians.
Imran Khan is not more than a dude! He missed the opportunity; the leader needs to feel the pain of the masses, not always show them the green path.
Rex Minor
just call and record of huge crowd will become a history!!
All talk no action just uturns! If IK wants to sweep nxt elections he needs to lobby for electoral reforms. Move fast otherwise ur gona regret it !
Long march ! for what cause ? Just to show strength ? Mr Khan you are now surrounded by old PPP and PMLN thungs who are your decision makers
Well just a name change.... Dharna khan is changing to Protest Khan!
"@F Khan: AND THIS sounds to me like a dictator at work. Why could not there be a democratic consensus in the party rather than IK having his way?" . You have totally misunderstood what a politician means by the word "democracy". His interpretation does not necessarily concur with yours. The rulers talk of democracy while the people want democracy.
My only disappointment with IK is that he brought in 7 point agenda and not a 9 point agenda.
PTI is such a copy cat...and remember Pasha is retired.
So let us play protest protest, typical immi attitude
@Usama:
Ab ya MARNA ho ga,, ya DARNA ho ga… We are with you.. My leader.. !!!!
Ab Darne ke liye bhi followers ki Zaroorat hai?
Imran Khan zindabad, PTI paaindabad.
plz ask shahbaz sharif to contact Guinness book of world records guys before PTI march
He can lead a team of 11 people only, at his best!
To call making jokes of IK statement, remember 30th Oct thats what most of you where doing?
Let the time come PTI will change Pakistan and protest for reasons not for showoff.
@nasir: Why dont u people understand the difference between IK n Qadri? Qadri is a controversial, liar, hiding in a 1.5 crore container, with blind followers from MQI, used women n children to threaten the government. IK is not an inch like him. Ik is not afraid of any attack. He even visited Quetta despite many threats. He is not controversial like Qadri. Ik made a wise decision by not joining him.
At least he will join the protesters in rain and cold weather out there :)
Qadri is very much controversial and has a large number of blind followers from his MQ institute. IK made a wise decision by not joining him. PTI shows the educated youth of this country, free thinkers and followers of a determined non-controversial leader. There is a large difference. Ik was the first to change the mind of masses, Qadri just came to take the credit after his 15 years of struggle. IK will not need a container made up of 1.2 crore. He is a free person and doesnot cae for his life in jalsas.
What kind of politics is that? Seems like its a match or a competition on who holds the biggest protest. IK, please come out of the cricket mindset
Dream on Once again IK's ego prevailed over the interest of the citizens. PTI is nearly history
Khan the only hope for Pakistan
Inshaallah pti well sweep
I guess he will be protesting after the elections as it is highly unlikely his party will win more than 20 seats (this may be an overestimate)
Ab ya MARNA ho ga,, ya DARNA ho ga...
We are with you.. My leader.. !!!!
You are out hope. PTI will make the change happen.
Guys! people have every right to stay in fools paradise :)
After reading the comments, i must say, TUQ mission accomplished. You have successfully damaged PIT slogan of change. You hijacked PTI slogans and topi drama of yours achieved nothing. IK has been saying all along, PTI would protest if a neutral care taker govt is not appointed before elections. So he is not copying TUQ, it was the other way around.
No matter what IK does now, it is going to look like he is repeating a stale episode of TUQ. I am afraid that after fruitless TUQ endless dharna, people would lose the passion of joining a real Tiger. Its a shame that topi mullah came and in a month damaged PTI like no other party has done.
I can hear the echo of the Presidential voice from the Clifton shores and from the Margalla hills:
"Another one? Bring it on; make my day. hahaha, hohoho"
Imran cannot hold Qadri style dharna. Unlike Qadri, Majority of Imran's followers are young kids and infants. Parents of these kids will never throw their kids in harm's way. Concerts style Jalsa is fine.
He says free and fair election not possible if AZ is the president and AZ will be president during election so that means upcoming election will not be free, so whats the point taking part in election wich he knows wont be free ? Whats the point complaining later when u had the chance to remove AZ. YOU can do TSUNAMI MARCH for free and fair election so how come TUQ was wrong ?We are with Kaptaan
Another childish move by Me too Khan. TUQ stole the show, now come up with something new.
After Qadri's event last week given the choice between Zardari and Imran Khan I WILL vote for Zardari. I never thought I will say this before. IK is an idiot. I hope Zardari lathi charges his protest and him too!
At the risk of pointing out the obvious: PTI has great members and supporters (though I'm not lucky enough to be one - no sarcasm). It's a "little hollow" on top leadership level. Good intentions, sincererity, intensity of emotions are good but IK needs to focus on winning the elections by developing an efficient vote generating machinery that will ensure his voters' votes are cast and counted. He is pitted against some of the shrewdest and most calculing political strategists (in PPP, PMLN , MQM) Pakistan has ever produced (you may hate them but that's a fact). Gone are the days of the charismatic, larger than life leaders in Pakistan) please wake up Mr Khan. People say youve missed the bus, well not really. Go out on the street corners. Meet with the paanwala, hotelwala. buswala, tonga wala. Do little corner meetings, town hall meetings, get out of the cosy TV studios and walk on the streets and talk to real people. Not really cool by your standards and style but that's how ZAB became a vote winner and still was the most cool person ever in Pakistan. Go IK go for it! Or go back to coaching the game you know. Good luck.
Reminds me of Abrar-ul-Haq Biloo's song: Kinnay Kinnay Jahnah Biloo they Ghar Lain Bunnaow Ticket Khuttaow
Every Ahhra Gharrah Nathoo Khairya wants his day in the Sun (or in the rain).
" Right time"
Instead of holding protest march PTI chief should concentrate on the completion of intra party elections as the general election is less than two months away. Strong party structure is a prerequisite for converting popularity in masses into electoral success.
What a pitty! there is going to be no Long March in support of terrorists holding up hostages in Algiers and demanding release of 'Quom Ki Beeta, Afiya Sadiqui' in exchange. I think Quom has forgotten its Beeti and her real brothers are doing whatever they can do best, for her release.
And the same will happen to you what happened to Qadri.
IK sat in his shell when it was time to come out. He is confused as ever. He has lost credibility something echoed by many more. He agrees with TUQ's agenda but could not come out to support. He has proved to me that he is incapable of making the right decisions at the right time. He says he did not want to come out as it may be unconstitional. If so under which article is he expecting Zardari to step down. Also, another question is that will he now contest elections under PRESIDENT zardari. Is that not hypocricy?
Albert Einstein's definition of insanity:
" Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result"
This is exactly what's happening in Pakistan. You have the same bunch of politicians who have delivered zilch, get re-elected again and again, and the illiterate, gullible masses continue to suffer.
Pakistanis today have probably the worst reputation in the world. What exactly can one be proud of, when all you hear daily is bombs, bombs and bombs, Pakistanis killing Pakistanis.
The only hope for Pakistan my friends. Inshallah PTI will sweep the elections....
I m PTI member but i am hearing this TSUNAMI MARCH from IK for years now, When this TSUNAMI MARCH gonna come ? Govt didnt arrest PM on SC order, IK said few days ago that Election commission failed to stop pre-poll rigging, He said its not possoble to have free andf fair elections when AZ is president and ask him to resign . AZ is not resigning, Election commission failed to stop pre-poll rigging, Sc orders not implemented , When is the March from IK.? is he making us fool ? He should not complain about rigging in election now. He saving system like PMLN saved system for last 5 years and IK was attacking them that they saving system.
@Ghazanfar Raza: There is no copy paste here my friend. He has never jumped like all of the other. He has resisted the temptations by using a cool head. He didnt believe in the undemocratic step, the so-called 'revolution'. He is not someone who has run away and stayed overseas for 7 years. He has struggled in this very country and his efforts for a changed Pakistan will bear fruits InshaAllah.
Btw this man doesnt stand behind bullet proof cabins like all of the other including Qadri saheb. If there is danger then he is in same amount of danger as everyone else.
Mein bhi protest karoon ga. Baraa ho gaya hoon, bacha nahee!
Don't you realise the public is fed up now. Prepare for elections and organize a huge election rally
The cat keeps coming out of the bag again and again The real leader is zardari who has ben runnig the country with boths hand tied
You have become a "POLITICIAN" now. You didnt come out when there was time to be in the streets. And now you only want to show that you can also bring alot of people out of their homes. Where were you when youth was calling you? You are late Imran bhai. Dont waste the time of pakistani awam now. wait for elections. Thanks. From a PTI supporter and youth.
Who will come with an even bigger protest now? Nawaz Sharif?
To achieve what dude?
In the good old days, opportunists in the north (Central Asia) used to overrun this part of the World in winter. Now this work has been nationalised and the march of loot and plunder will be done the the natives themselves. Good luck, Imran Khan.
we are ready for your call
another protest? Really? IK you keep changing your stance like a pendulum swinging, please don't misguide the young minds who are following you with your immature acts. This isn't cricket that you plan match to match, series to series and change as you wish.
"He said that there was a lot of pressure on him from his party members to join Minhajul Quran International chief Qadri’s long march, however, he said that he told his followers to wait for the “right time”. < AND THIS sounds to me like a dictator at work. Why could not there be a democratic consensus in the party rather than IK having his way?
No need to adopt the policy of "Tit for tat". We will come out with IK if care taker setup would not indifferent.
Lakeer petnay ka koi faida nhi ....
Imran we are with you. IK zindabad
No one prospers under an honest leader . . . that is why I am a die hard PPP jiyala.
All his emphasize is on neutral caretaker govt but ET choose this headline.....this is called real journalism ...great
Sir there is no need now..Sit home and relax!
Just give the call Captain!
Khan sb, even though I respect you a lot but seems like on political front, you have already missed the bus
wish you all the success .you must protest with the common women & men who are hungry,no jobs,no gas or bijli & teach them to vote beyond baradri system.what are you going to do about the rishwat to people by benezir scheme etc, also salute all the women & children who spent so many days with qadri in cold & rain.many duaaz for you brother.
Doing whatever is popular, typical Imran Khan...
Imran theray Jan Nisar Baysumar Bauyshumar. IK zindabad. We are all with you.
Khan ji! What is the need of a protest?? R u afraid of what Qadri has done or he has stolen the charisma of a political leader that you had months ago?? A protest for the sake of protest or to show the power u have would not a fesible and suitable option. such an adventure will make your rational voter more away from you. Focus on political campaign and elections. Qadri and other big protesters cannot snatch the votes of your voters.
regards
CAn someone please lead the biggest public protest rally, blocking all roads, shutting down cities, and busineees, to PROTEST on having protests...
Yeah!! And Pakistan will come out of its problems because of this protest! And it can create one more guiness record after the national anthem! That is patriotism! Simple and hypersimple answers to twisted, distorted and hyperentangled state of affairs!
Only Hope :) My leader
good luck.our prayers are with you
That's just to cheer up the pti trolls who want to protest in streets.....
And I am sure that will materialize too for demands that instrumenting for protest
Longmarch for what?? The 7 point agenda is far behind the PTI politics. It will be more a personality campaign rather a long march or the so called tsunami march.
He should try doing it in Canada. Tit4Tat eh?
So Mr. Khan is anticipating his defeat............. Elections, which are yet to be announced, And he is protesting against it. I think he has read "Writing on the Walls".
IK is 'Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan' of modern days.
Regards Khattak
Very right decision, not to join that foreign agent fabricated long march, keep on thinkin wisely
“trump all other protests people have seen in the past.”
Imran Khan is going to prove the he is the boss when it comes to cheap trickery.
Good Imran, that's the only thing Pakistanis are going to get, a cheap trick from you. Wait for 6 months in power, Pakistanis will know how deeper they have sunk.
Your one man game is over. You have missed the biggest catch by not joining Qadri's sit-in.
IK is quoted above: "that so far, no one had approached his party to discuss the caretaker setup." IK said the same of Qadri, even though Qadri was extending public invitations. Obviously, IK has missed the boat or train, whichever you like. "Time waits for no one" and IK is the past not the future. IK is too pusillanimous for his own good and certainly for Pakistan's good. We need courageous leaders and IK is found wanting. If Changez Khan thought like Imran Khan, he would never have left his village to the conquer the world.
So sad that we will again witness a few days of protests just to end in a promise of a free an fair election process!
Would it have hurt if the following were added in the agenda rather than asking to sign what already exists in the constitution?
1) One day load shedding of gas and fuel 2) Lower rates of per KG of flour 3) Lower rates of sugar 4) Lower rates of fertilizer and other inputs of Agrilcuture 5) Any other problem faced by the lower income class of Pakistan 6) Anything of use to the people of Pakistan rather than another "promise"!
If they are no longer alive or sane till the so called "free and fair" elections then what good will it be?
Mr Imran Khan! Please don't go asking for the same bright future of Pakistan aka "free and fair elections" when holding your "biggest protest in Pakistan"!
If caretaker set up is not neutral and it looks like elections are not going to be free and fair...it is the duty of every Pakistani to protest. I'm sure supporters of all parties will agree with me.
IK please. You have been shouting for free and fair elections but Tahir ul Qadri Sahib made the government agree and sign the declaration saying the elections will be free and fair according to the constitution.. He has made your work easier now!
Lets see what he will bring out from sack?
PTI... all the way...
Tahir Qadri demands were also free and fair election , Why not joined him and threatning to long march for same agenda ? confused.
so are we playing dharna dharna in this country?
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan announced on Friday that his party will hold the “biggest ever” protest which will “trump all other protests people have seen in the past.” Guinness book of world records - we'll keep you busy!
Don't Protest. The Govt is almost over. Get ready for the elections with your own manifesto based on the real needs of Pakistan People.
Its as if its a competition "Come one come all! Who can organize the biggest protest?" Instead of competing over who can bring about the most beneficial changes for Pakistan, these people are counting their numbers and are boasting about it! Well, there is still hope I guess...
Mr. Imran has been proved himself the most immature and incompetent. He can play or lead with kids with ball and bat,but can’t face the real intellects and really mature once.
Way to go IK!!
Who is next in this race. Bring people and sit on, what is it good for > just to break the protest records or what.
Welcome Mr Me Too.
But tell us, If the GHQ said so will you turn right back, go home and have tea, again.
Copy and paste move by PTA