Will live in a tent but won’t leave Islamabad sit-in: Imran

PTI leader added the nation had decided to resist oppressors

GUJRAT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has said that he won’t leave the Islamabad sit-in venue even if he has to live there inside a tent.

While addressing his party’s rally in Gujrat on Friday, the PTI chairman reiterated his resolve to continue his sit-in in the federal capital till PM Nawaz Sharif stepped down.

“I will never end my sit-in,” he assured his supporters. “Even if there is a time when we don’t have funds to set up lights and music system; I will live in a tent alone. But will not leave the venue.”

The PTI leader said the nation had decided to resist oppressors, which is why they came in large numbers in his rallies in cities including Karachi, Lahore, Mianwali, and others.

“People have awoken. They have realised that the time for change is now,” he said. “Those who have seen me in cricket, they know I always fight till the end.”

The PTI chairman asked all Pakistanis to reach Islamabad on November 30.

“A sea of people will reach Islamabad on November 30,” he said. “Supporters prepare yourselves; it will be the largest crowd in history of Islamabad.”

The PTI chairman added that his party will hold rallies after Muharram.

Imran argued that PM Nawaz was not resigning as he had yet to receive kickbacks from billions of dollars worth of contracts he had signed.”

“He will not step down as he will lose billions of rupees.”

Accept PTI's resignations immediately

Regarding resignations of PTI members from Parliament and provincial assemblies, he said they had on principle decided not to go back to fake and bogus assemblies.

“Who are you to not accept our resignations,” he said while referring to PM Nawaz. “We will not go back in Parliament, and will cancel the party membership of anyone who opposes our decision.”

Meanwhile, according to sources, a PTI rally is planned in Rahimyar Khan on November 9.

Maulana Fazl’s comment deplorable

Imran condemned Thursday's attack on Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Quetta, which killed at least one of his workers but added that his comment regarding women participants in his rally were deplorable.

“I did not like the way you talked about women who come to our sit-in,” he said. “We want our mothers and daughters to contribute in making a new Pakistan.”

He rejected Maulana’s claims of teaching his supporters western ideals, saying that they talk about Islam and Iqbal.

Thank you, Qadri

The PTI chairman in his address thanked Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for staging a sit-in in Islamabad for over two months.

“I thank you Dr Qadri,” he said. “The way PAT workers resisted the Gullu Butts of Punjab Police on August 31 is commendable.”

He said PAT and PTI’s objectives were different, and that he will continue to protest till those who rigged 2013 general elections were held accountable.

Funds for PTI

The former cricketer also made an appeal for donations to the Pakistani nation, saying he will work for public as opposed to others who worked for investors and capitalists.

“I want money from you, the public. You will run my sit-in,” he said. “If I get the funds, the movement will spread throughout the country.”

Responding to former president Asif Zardari’s comments about PTI’s sources of income, he said, “I get the money not the way you got it,” he said. “This money is not from corruption or theft. It is a donation by the Pakistani nation.”