"The army is not bothered by our march but their [Punjab government] attitude can stir the army,” said Imran, adding that the August 14 march would be a battle of ideologies.
Imran went on to warn the government to avoid any attempts to stop his peaceful, legal protest from proceeding to Islamabad. "Any attempt to stop us will be at their [government's] own peril," said Imran.
Refuting claims that he is derailing democracy, Imran said the the right to peaceful protest is a core democratic principle. "If anything, the actions of the Punjab police against Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers are undemocratic."
Imran reiterated that he will present his demands on August 14 to the government.
Reiterating that his main focus is to strengthen democracy, end monarchy and electoral reforms, Imran said, “elections don’t indicate democracy; transparent elections are the real indication of democracy."
“Our demands are not unconstitutional,” he said adding that his sit-in will not end until his demands are met.
Further, slamming the government for its hypocrisy, Imran reminded the government that it had led a long march in 2009.
"In a letter to the government, the PML-N had said that peaceful protests are part of the constitution and now that same Nawaz Sharif who was not stopped by the police or the army is trying to stop us,” said Imran.
Imran reiterated that he would unveil the names of those involved in rigging elections at a press conference on August 11.
COMMENTS (40)
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PTI is just like a little baby crying all the time when feeder is taken away from its mouth. From the day "Pasha feeder" had been removed they are only crying from that day.
@Ranjha: Gone the time of 100%. IK is not that popular as he was
@Nida Alvi: You people are enemies of Pakistan. How can you possibly insult Imran Khan for all he has done for KPK and Pakistan? More than 90% of Pakistan opposes the war against our blood relatives and fellow Muslims in Afghanistan. Imran Khan is following the policies which the people want, nothing else.
@Last Word: You Hindu extremists stay out of Pakistani affairs and don't insult our national hero. We are still waiting for justice for the massacred women in Gujurat, but you elected a butcher of Muslims as PM.
Allah may be with people of this poor country.
@ Ranjha Totally agreed. Either they cant see or they don't want to see the reality. Every parameter is indicating rise in IK's support, whether its the recent jalsas, or the increase in number of national and provincial assembly seats through the by-election (PTI has gained 7 seats and lost 2 seats in by-elections), or it is the increase in number of votes in by-elections despite lower turn-outs. or it is the recent survey which indicated increasing popularity of PTI and decrease in every other party's support.
‘Azadi’ march on August 14 a ‘defining’ moment for Pakistan'............we already seeing defining moments of KPK so please stop !!!! If the army were to take over the country, it would only be because of the government’s misgovernance and your lust for premiership. Above all you are not derailing democracy but insist elected government should resign. If such precedent is set then in coming times any party could gather mass in Islamabad and demands resignation from elected government.........Is this your idea of flourishing democracy in Pakistan?
@Last Word:
Which millions are you talking about? We are still behind IK 100%.
Oh, may be you are talking about the fake millions who voted for Non League?
In a country where an opposition cannot totally destroy this guy by challenging him with his own inconsistencies, in a country where this guy is not considered as mentally retarded, for that country i hate to break it to you, the future is miserable!
IK....please stop the nonsense. Do you think by this Azadi march, you will go from 35 to 135 seats and get a majority? It is foolishness on your part and the result is going to be that either the Army will step in or you will again it in the opposition. What good will your march do for the ordinary citizens of Pakistan?
You had an opportunity...could have helped rebuild KPK. Eliminated polio from KPK. But what have you or your party accomplished? Your party cannot even run a single province and you dream of running Pakistan?
Any blood loss or economic loss to the working class of Pakistan is on your hands. May you pay for it!
@Usman: Fully agree with your opinion, as army has no right to interfere or takeover government constitutinally - Pakistan have already suffered too much from the stupidity of few ex-generals and some of them are still active right now.
@Nida Alvi: Agree with your logical analysis on IK who turned out to be a huge disappointment to millions of his fans and now taking the country to a deep crisis for his lust for power.
@Malveros:
Bro, the problem is that the degenerate that he is, the con artist IK has been thoroughly rejected by the masses in KPK and just so to sweep under the carpet the utter failure in KPK, this smokescreen has been erected to create anarchy in Punjab. The trolls of PTI do not even comprehend that if PML-N came to power through rigged elections,their own leader is a product of the same Dhandhli. I would have had immense respect if IK would have been the first one to resign from this assembly on these grounds. But you need a bit of shame and character to do something like and we all that shame/character and IK is an oxymoron.
If Imran Khan tries taking on the Army in Islamabad, he shall learn who the Army would take action against. Imposition of Army in Islamabad under Article 245 is the most brilliant thing of all actions that the PML-N dummies have ever done. IK is creating lawlessness in Punjab to drag the Punjab police into confrontation. So, any deaths and mayhem is being caused to invite the Army to take over. But PTI wants to blame the Government. Shame on them for creating lawlessness and making false propaganda.
@Mujeeb: Let for a while agree with you. Can you please suggest some alternatives to what Khan Sb is demanding given that every relevant institutions are approached for justices/ or for transparent voting system.
Few people are unable to understand khan Sb, because they follow what press told them.
I am getting sick of this man. Punjab has rejected you and we don't want you here. Go back to KPK to the other side of Attock.
No idea what will happen. BUT for now there is only truth. PMLN are shitting their pants.
@Mujeeb: He did something that no other Politician did in the past. Imran Khan did not cry in press regard to losing seat he continued on his way toward electoral reform.
PMLN could have easily defused the situation a long time ago. their ego didn't let them.
they always act like monarchy and no room for that in democracy.
Right to protest is basic. PMLN created the hype but trying to restrict it.
I say good riddance to PMLN
Usman and others; Government is definitely responsible because Government is taking away the right of peaceful protest from its citizens. Arresting people, blocking roads and killing protesters; does it happen anywhere in todays world? Even Zardari did not do all this. So if this stupid madness of Government continues, Army has to interfere to save the Pakistani citizens.
Some compensated comments here.
A party has full right to demand mid term elections.
Imran Khan is not advocating dictatorship. He is saying that since the elections were rigged, there should be re-elections. It's a democratic demand.
He has the right to stage peaceful sit in. But the government is blocking roads, arresting workers, harassing people and trying to stop protest.
What about the protests of Shahbaz Sharif against Zardari? Wasn't Zardari elected president?
This is a very funny news item... Everyone knows that Imran Khan is the creativity of General (R) Ahmed Shuja Pasha, who inducted a number of electables in PTI (Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmi, Khurshid Kasuri, Azam Swati etc). Interestingly, none of the electables joined after the retirement of Pasha and the artificially-hyped popularity of PTI declined rapidly. The matters of PTI have gone to such a low level, that politically immature & mentally unstable Imran Khan has accused everyone for his defeat. He was singing the songs of then Chief Justice, Justice Chaudhry. He had to lick his spit on the word of sharamnaak when Justice Chaudhry was in Office. But upon CJ's retirement, Imran Khan has started accusing him. He was instrumental in nomination of Justice Fakhruddin Ebrahimje as Chief Election Commissioner. Upon CEC's retirement, IK has started spewing venom against him. He has accused various TV channels, which were earlier singing his songs all the time, especially during Pasha's tenure. Foolish Imran Khan has even accused a serving Brigadier of MI for his defeat. Despite the past wrongdoings of Pasha, it is certain that the institution of Army is not in favor of this stubborn, politically immature & mentally unstable person who has accused Army for his defeat, was stubbornly opposing NATO supplies (but failed) and has even vehemently opposed Army Operation in NWA. How can the Army support Taliban Khan?? Imran Khan could be a successful cricketer but definitely a failed person due to his stubborn & immature attitude.
@Blithe: So if the PTI stuffed hundreds of bags full of fictitious votes, aided & abetted by an army of Gullu's and corrupt RO's and the results subsequently gave PTI a clear majority, would you say the same if N-League, having discovered the large scale foul play, decided to take to the streets and that after having exhausted all other means of re-dress?
@Kamran: I do not support any political party but feel that Imran Khan is the worst leader around. He is teaching the youth to take by force what you can't get by law. He talks of election fraud and one of his own MPA's from Karachi was de-seated today by an election tribunal. Ironical.
@Blithe:
Who do you think are blind?. Your reference point of punjab election, which is responsible for this whole mess. Better do some research
IK will be equally responsible. Irony is that IK is consciously or unconsciously helping TuQ. If democracy derails, and civil war breaks out or any sort of unrest is created, then IK will not be remembered in good words.
Looks like PTI is really under pressure. There are way too many statements by Imran Khan.
@Kamran: I consider him to be a genuine leadership too, but of delusional and narcissistic characters
It doesn't matter if its government's doing or yours but unfortunately you will suffer the most. Mian Sahib and PML(N) has survived many times before but you will be become history after 15 August if this government falls.
@Kamran: iK is the most disingenuous and selfish leader! He is petulant to the nth degrees .
What is protesting!?!? No development in KPK????
Openly challenging the rit of the government and planning to overthrow an elected government is democratic? Challenging the police and creating state inside a state is democratic?
@Blithe: No It'll be solely down to Nawaz. If PMLN can do long march, as they threatened many times against PPP govt in 2010, 2012, etc...why can't PTI? Does constitution apply only to PTI and not PMLN?
PMLN are such a bunch of hypocrites!
Oh, so now the reality is surfacing.... your statments weighs towards the speculations that Shuja Pasha asked for this
"Tsunami" turning out to be a wet apron hanging out to dry!
Get a life Blithe... is it he day dreaming or you have gone nuts?
No, it'll be your doing. You not being able to reconcile that you won a minuscule number of seats (just 35 or so) and you are NOT as popular in Punjab as you were day dreaming !
He said PTI wanted democracy to flourish in the country, adding that if the Punjab government did not mend its ways, the army would indeed take over.
What ever govt does what right army has to take over.
Not satisfied with performance in 1971, 1999 kargil, abbot abad, GHQ, mehar n base? they better improve skills .
Khan. God Bless you. Genuine leadership of Pakistan
What about the child coming into this world ? Whose doing is that ?