ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan remained optimistic while addressing a party event in the federal capital on Wednesday, urging people to come out on November 30 not just for themselves but for the nation.
The PTI is set to stage a massive rally on November 30, which Imran termed "big Test".
"I am going to a play a big match [on November 30],” said the former cricketer-turned-politician.
Friday (November 21) will mark the 100th day of PTI's protest, which began on August 14, against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.
“My team has strengthened in all these days,” he said. “There game has improved, and they often played more than their potential.”
Imran went on to say that his party is the only one to challenge the government over its election through rigging.
"Had we not challenged the government, it would easily complete its five-year term."
“This is because the justice system only favours the powerful," he said, adding that the present status quo in the country did not allow one to receive any justice from anyone.
Imran reiterated,“We asked for vote verification in four constituencies, why didn’t they abide by our demand?”
The PTI leader added that both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N were afraid of his party. “The PML-N won with 15 million votes but cannot hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan,” he said. “The PPP tried to [gather a lot of people] for their Karachi rally and I’ve heard their gathering in Lahore has already been cancelled," he said, adding, "Just wait and see what happens in Larkana on November 21.”
On a lighter note, the PTI chairman said that rather than taking a sleeping pill, one can just chant this anti-Nawaz slogan "go Nawaz go" to get relief.
COMMENTS (29)
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Pakistanis should get used to the idea that all democracies are imperfect and messy. Even in the USA mandates are regularly stolen by gerrymandering, removing minorities from voters list by trumped up charges or putting requirements so onerous that some people find it impossible to vote. Don't even talk about India where the mob rules. However, democracies do tend to be self correcting and it is the most perfect inperfect system available. Nawaz is not an angel, but he did not steal the mandate. All opinion polls indicated Nawaz was going to win by a landslide in Punjab and that is exactly what happened. What Pakistan is suffering from is buyers remorse. They did not see all their problems solved within 6 months. Please realize Pakistan spent 3 generations of bad judgement, wrong decisions and bad luck to work itself where it is, it is going to take 1 generation of honest soul searching, resolve and hard work to get out of this mess. Don't expect any magic bullet from any leader because there are none. If IK destroys democracy, you will spend another generation paying for this.
Imran Khan is nobody to challenge the Government as there is so called no Federal Government which exists so far according to my analysis there is no federal government at any level playing active role at all .
@Xman: In theory, you are right. In theory. But lets look at Punjab police. PMLN have been in power in punjab for 6 years, and some years before Mush. What reforms have they done to make punjab police depoliticised?
Simply put, I've no trust for sharifs bros. Not that I think IK or PTI have the answers to everything, they don't, but I trust IK's intention more then sharif bros. Maybe its just me.
@Feya: I am not sure what definition you have for good politician and human. I am not a fan of IK or TUQ neither supporter of them. But I struggle to understand how people manipulate the word democracy and politics. Why we forget ethics and morality in everything? without humanity you can't become human and the basics of humanity starts with justice for everyone and standing up with others for justice. I have 100s of objections on IK, but I have no objection with him or anyone if they ask for the justice which everyone deserves. When we people are going to realize its not just about me, its about us. These protests are bad because the road to my house gets blocked. What if that protest is held by someone whose daughter got rapped, someone's son got killed on road. You are supposed to stand with them to get them justice, thats what makes you human not just criticizing others for creating hurdles on the road or blocking your way. I hope no one ever is subject any injustice, but with this kind of behaviour we are just waiting for next victim of being rapped, killed, looted, starving to death, being illiterate.
I am always left dumbfounded, when ever I look at the determination, conviction and untiring quest of IK in achieving his goals. He is the only man who has put his personal gains aside and fighting for general public. He is not the only hope left for this country. I feel pity for people who oppose Imran Khan and do not understand the clearly laid facts, that forces of status quo have united just to guard their vested interests.
How can people even think to support the parties which have already ruled the country for decades and have given nothing to the country but corruption, nepotism, injustice, negation of meritocracy.
I think you have lost it completely. You do know that most of the disputed constituancies, votes could not be counted because they were full of trash. People that scream that pti protest is wrong should also admit that democracy means only trash because that is what your vote was replaced by. It does not matter who won or lost and if it was done in 50 or 200 constituancies , simple principle is that needs to be probed. Why Ns is obstructing and why by law tribunals have not decided cases in 4 months. Only of dishonesty does not matter to you , IK protest should trouble you . @aaaaa:
Corruption is an outcome of weak institutions, and people of Pakistan are suffering precisely because institutions were never allowed to mature under stable democratic governments, due to rogue elements like IK , facilitated by the puppet masters, disrupting the system time and again. If we've had elected governments complete their terms, political sense would have prevailed in masses instead of the messiah complex that leads to nothing but manipulation by that single source of power who promulgate corruption within institutions to strengthen their own control.
@Anarchist: In a democracy, the elected government is a reflection of the people. Our government was elected by the majority of Pakistanis despite what Imran Khan claims. The European Union and other Western observers including the US say that despite minor rigging that goes on in all 3 rd World countries, the elections were largely free and fair. The problem is that a sore loser like Imran Khan is willing to do anything and destroy the nation in his obsession for power. People who once sympathized with Imran Khan like me are now sick of his childish behavior. He has exposed himself as someone who is too immature to ever lead the nation. I supported him in the past but now never again. He would be an unmitigated disaster for the nation given his arrogance and behavior.
Dear IK, We are all willing to change the government but not before the election 2018! This is democracy not your bed sheet that you can change whenever you want.
P.S Grow up
So as per Imrani logic, forcing a democratically elected government out before completion of its term is something to be proud of. :-D
@Shahid Ahmed:
Of course its a right. And there's a laid out mechanism in the constitution for it. Neither the government nor the courts have the power to do it. This was reaffirmed by the SC recently. The prerogative lies with the Election Tribunals only. The same election tribunals who called Imran Khan 11 times to present his case and dismissed his petition on the 12th when he failed to show up even once. The same tribunals who ordered a recount in Jehangir Tareen's constituency which Tareen had demanded but ended up a loser by an even bigger margin. The same tribunals that found the PTI guilty of rigging against JI in Sindh. And the same tribunals who have dismissed every single petition filed by PTI.
Yes, because no body else has so many voters as pti. Pti is at good track, but may its now too late. Government should conduct new elections after 4 years instead of 5 years.
Every political party would challenge the govt when next elections would be announced in a few years. The election cycle is over for all the parties except for PTI and Qadri who did not believe in elections because he knows he has no chance. It is a shame that NS is a dumb but stubborn politician. If he would have given all the seats PTI was close (but lost) even then they would still be in small minority. When a relatively pure PTI could not win the elections then there is no chance now for a PTI with Rashid Tully, Choudhry Brothers, JI, and SMQ the greatest of feudal, lota and pir.
@Ahmed......Stop making false statements, I don't support the current Pakistani government because they are bunch of inept and corrupt people who are looting the country on daily basis !!!!
Because others have better things to do, than challenge elected government ! Its been obvious that, you also seriously do lack a serious policy mechanisms to improve the state of the Nation, while being selective with elements causing mayhem in the country. Let's not even discuss your ideas on foreign policy, as they would be detrimental to Pakistan !
@Ahmed: I'm not backing the Pakistan govt...not until they have an independant inquiry on rigging and punish those found guilty.
If PMLN won so cleanly, why are they so afraid of vote verification and keep getting stay orders? Doesn't that make you think that there was some rigging?
@Rahul: Another case of selective memory syndrome. He tried knocking on the doors of justice for over a year, even when people started organising protests of their own accord PTI did not condone them or participate. They pursued all legal means with protesting being the last standing constitutional avenue that could be pursued. Godspeed to him I would say. To all those that keep saying you can't oust a government like this, well constitutionally yes you can do so, provided sufficient evidence of a despotic rule be provided. Albeit, you have to hold a certain seat in the system to be able to do so.
FYI (to all other commentators) a democracy isn't a democracy if the public's mandate is stolen. Calling an apple an orange won't ever reflect on people that call it what it is, the only person that comes out worse for wear is the fool ever so confidently calling it as such.
IK, when words like (I, me) over comes ones senses, believe it or not right at that very moment ones down fall become imminent. This is not a cricket match or building hospital, it's a nation and future of millions human beings. No one government or state could be afraid of one individual or a political party. Please wake up and appreciate for all the chances you are been given to become a politician and above all better human. Either go home to UK or go and take care of KP.
Pakistan has a right to fight extremists. We have eliminate all threats to the public and the world (terrorists) and we must take action against anti-constitutional and anti democracy elements such as IK and TuQ. I believe in democracy!!!
@Rahul and others. Asking for investigation for rigging in any constituancy is a constitutional right for every party and the candidate. Why can't Government do it? Why is all the election departments, and the judicial system so much against it? After asking for justice for more than a year will you let go of any injustice done to you? If so then it's called cowardice. In the history of the mankind people have stood against the injustice and succeded. Why you think Mr. Ghandhi is called Mahatama?
Dear IK, thanks for making it crystal clear to the nation that PML N and PPP are on the same side. The faces of many corrupts are exposed by media and soon the big culprits will also be highlighted. People are aware of the evils of ruling govt. They have won the election through rigging. Wish you good luck for all your rallies.
This daily lecturing, horse and cattle show at d-chowk and mud throwing right, left and center on everyone he calls 'challenging the government'.......mashallah what a challenge.
@Ahmed:
The Pakistan government, full of crooks and NABies, is for sure not supported by the 'entire nation'. But by self-interested group of vultures, yes.
Taliban and other crooks challenge the Pakistan government too. No problem. The Pakistan government is backed by the entire nation, therefore neither the Taliban, nor Imran Khan, nor Al Qaeda, nor Qadri, nor any other crook will ever be allowed by the nation to once agan overthrow democracy in Pakistan.
dear IK its a democracy governments are not "challenged" in a democracy please get out of your delusion
The set-in itself was a test for the ideological and opportunists workers and leaders of the PTI. Good to see IK is still in form.
Mr Imran Khan, you are part of the problem, the purpose of the opposition is to constructively engage the Government and show how you can do a better job. If there was fraud during the elections, it is up to the Election Commission and the courts to investigate, bringing the country and government to a halt is not going to solve a thing. What it is going to do is keep a crippled, lame duck government in office for the next 4 years, just as the Zardari government became before this. Admitted Sharif has his blind spots, you should expose them to the public constructively and show you are a better person. Your party is in power in KP, but KP is a bigger mess than the rest of Pakistan. Your record in KP is not showing any confidence in your ability to rule the rest of Pakistan.