MULTAN: PTI chief Imran Khan on Friday derided Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for being a coward and not responding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's threats against Pakistan.
Addressing a crowd in Multan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief said, "you [Modi] could solve the Kashmir issue instead of being a muscle man in this instance."
"This is the time for you to withdraw your troops from Kashmir. Bringing peace should be your aim," said Imran, adding that the Indian PM should chose to be a 'statesman' instead of flexing muscle under the current circumstances.
Opining on relations between Indian and Pakistan, the PTI chief, "If relations improve between India and Pakistan, we could spend more money on eradicating poverty instead of defence."
"On one side there are drone strikes, on the other there are attacks on the Sialkot border. Nawaz has not made a statement on either issue," said Imran.
He went on to claim that Nawaz had not issued a statement against Modi's statements to safeguard his family's business interests in India.
"Why hasn't Nawaz addressed the issue of drone attacks?" Imran asked rhetorically, adding that Nawaz did not have the courage to tell the US that drone attacks are against our sovereignty.
Imran also hit out at former president Asif Ali Zardari, saying he would break the partnership between Zardari and Nawaz. The PTI chief said he would hold a rally in Larkana on November 21 to "awaken the people of Sindh."
8 killed, 115 injured from stampede
At least eight people were killed while 115 others injured as a result of a stampede at the end of the PTI rally, confirmed Medical Superintendent Dr Ashiq Malik and Director Emergency Dr Pervez Haider at the Nishtar Hospital.
Qasim Bagh has eight gates, but only three of them were operational due to security reasons. When lighting failed, only two entry points, apart from the VIP gate were in use.
Since crowds were massive, they moved towards the two gates and hence the mishap occurred.
Out of the 115 injured, 41 are said to be critically injured.
COMMENTS (19)
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Politican and religion people of India are the trouble makers for pkk.
@Azi: To the contrary this was solely PTIs mismanagement and failure. Criminal case of gross negligence which led to loss of precious life's should be filed against Imran Khan and top PTI leadership.
@Aftab: I agree with you. BTW the above comment was not mine. Stealing chairs, falling off the stage almost twice and not this stampede the organizational work of PTI and its leadership is not exemplary. The same way PTI performance in KPK is not exemplary and does not make any difference in people’s lives. The chaos unleased in New Pakistan is not going to be controlled by any leader in the future. Thanks and regards, M
Where is his statement on people killed in his jalsa,the award won by Malala,and aggainst the Taliban.And it is easy to give bravado statements from the sidelines,it is different when you are in the hot seat.
@Aftab: @Faisal It has been 67 years but generation after generation people in Pakistan does not understand that their politicians does not have anything to sell but Kashmir. Look at the irony Our (Indian) PM is called a 'hardliner' in Pakistan but he talks about 'development' everywhere in India and earns the PM post and in Pakistan anyone who talks about Kashmir is been thought to be a next PM.
We should keep the record straight: it was none by MQM and PPP leaders who raised the issue of Indian aggression and spoken against them. In fact, Bilawal's statement on Kashmir well before the ongoing border situation created a real wave in India.
@mirza: All parties have done such and even bigger jalsas in many cities of Pakistan. But the mismanagement seen in PTI jalsas is only PTI's honor. Please don't blame the nation. Was it not IK who said corruption and mismanagement moves from top to bottom in an organisation or government or nation? Was it not IK and PTI who warned police to keep away from PTI workers? I am sure police would have helped and cooperated if they were allowed to manage the stage and crowd inside the jalsa. In any case, the sad thing is the loss of lives. RIP
Everyday there is a new failure from NS becoming visible to the common eye. I wonder how long it would take for people to realize what an excuse of a PM they have elected and still support.
How and which words to be used to condole the deaths of 8 persons who died at the end of Imran jalsa in Multan? Before going any further I am to pose a question as to why none was even injured what to talk of dying in Karachi where the attendees were more than Multan. The simple answer is that most of the gates of Qasim Stadium where jalsa was held were closed and thus thousands of people rushed towards the gate which was open and quite naturally the gate was too short for so many thousands resulting in stampede whereby some people were trampled, got injured and killed. Why and how police was not posted on all the gates to ensure that all the gates be opened? However, we as Pakistanis have a tendency not to show any patience and behave in an orderly manner and the best example is that we notice in plane where it is announced that passengers must keep on sitting till the plane comes to complete halt but regretfully many passengers will get up much earlier than halting of the plane whereby sometimes even a packet falls down from the upper carriage pockets. Had the people showed some patience realizing the gravity of the situation the sad incident could have been avoided. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
@Faisal: Please introspect into the activities that go on at the border rather than to inspect the political talks on both the sides. This terror is eating into lives.
That is not pti or Imran fault.. This is our nation. Impatient and jungly
@Spyrogyra People were killed because the district management in Multan cut electricity meter s just yesterday because of which there was no electricity at the exit points. In addition, only 2 out of 8 gates were opened for exit. Why others were not opened and why there was no electricity at the exit points to evacuate thousands is a question that needs to be asked from both PTI organizers, Punjab government and district administration. It looks like a per-planned tragedy.
It was surely a mammoth crowd. TV channels estimated more than 2 lakh people. But at the same time, I would poisitvely criticize the PTI management who failed to manage the large crowd and death of 8 people took place coz of extreme congestion at the exit gates. PTI should take strict action against the management people who organized the Jalsa.
Before trying to wake up this nation IK should try to inculcate some discipline into them. Dozens killed and injured because they could not ne patient. What idiocy. It sometimes makes me wonder why anyone would want to lead such an uncouth lot or if it is even possible.
We are with you Khan. No matter if we put our lives in your true cause.
GO NAWAZ GO.Imran Khan look more like the Prime Minister of Pakistan to me than Nawaz Shareef. Atleast IK has the guts to respond to Modi's spit Venom. Shame on Nawaz.
JEO IMRAN KHAN. A TRUE LEADER!
the jalsa was mammoth. the crowd was unprecendented