Azadi March: ‘Call off rally to avoid embarrassment’
Mashhood says PTI won’t be able to stay in Islamabad for over two days.
LAHORE:
Law Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan on Thursday claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had started its Azadi March with only 2,000 people.
“The government has given a free hand to PTI workers although Lahore High Court has ruled against an unconstitutional march and a sit-in Islamabad,” the minister told a press conference.
He asked PTI chairman Imran Khan to review his demand for the prime minister’s resignation and dissolution of parliament. He said Khan should also have called off his rally to avoid embarrassment.
The minister said the government had earlier anticipated that the PTI activists would stay in Islamabad for four days. “But given the poor public response, the PTI might not choose to stay in the capital for more than two days.”
He said Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri’s call for Inqilab March had attracted nearly 8,000 party workers. He said Qadri had promised to remain peaceful.
He said Qadri and Imran Khan were unable to agree on who should leave Lahore first.
“We have asked them to follow security procedures as there are threats of terrorist activity on GT Road.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th,2014.
Law Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan on Thursday claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had started its Azadi March with only 2,000 people.
“The government has given a free hand to PTI workers although Lahore High Court has ruled against an unconstitutional march and a sit-in Islamabad,” the minister told a press conference.
He asked PTI chairman Imran Khan to review his demand for the prime minister’s resignation and dissolution of parliament. He said Khan should also have called off his rally to avoid embarrassment.
The minister said the government had earlier anticipated that the PTI activists would stay in Islamabad for four days. “But given the poor public response, the PTI might not choose to stay in the capital for more than two days.”
He said Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri’s call for Inqilab March had attracted nearly 8,000 party workers. He said Qadri had promised to remain peaceful.
He said Qadri and Imran Khan were unable to agree on who should leave Lahore first.
“We have asked them to follow security procedures as there are threats of terrorist activity on GT Road.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th,2014.