March towards PM House: Imran overruled core committee’s decision, claims Hashmi

Says PTI chief took the decision after receiving a ‘message from somewhere’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Javed Hashmi, who was lovingly called Baghi (rebel) by supporters, claimed on Sunday that Imran Khan overruled a unanimous decision of the party’s core committee and asked PTI workers to march towards the Prime Minister House Saturday night. He further claimed that Imran took the decision after receiving a ‘message from somewhere’.

“Minutes before Imran’s announcement, the PTI core committee had unanimously agreed not to move from D-Chowk and it was also discussed that an understanding was about to be reached with the government over the issues for which we are protesting,” Hashmi told a news conference at the National Press Club.

“Now I think there is no distance between martial law and us,” said the veteran politician.

Hashmi said that he learnt that PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had set the condition that he would not go ahead if Imran and his supporters didn’t join. “PTI leader Saifullah Niazi and AML chief Sheikh Rashid conveyed Qadri’s message to Imran, who suddenly changed his mind and announced that there was a compulsion to go ahead along with the PAT,” he added.

He said Imran had committed to the core committee that he would not move from D-Chowk to avoid any untoward incident. “However, after changing his mind, Imran said it is his decision and if anybody has any objection, he can go,” Hashmi added.

Hashmi said he told Imran that it was their responsibility to protect the youth and women. He added PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was had categorically said that they should not march towards the PM Secretariat along with PAT.

“I don’t believe in killing and torturing others in the name of democracy. Rather I was punished and put behind the bars for democracy,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2014.