Nov 30 rally: Imran warns govt against using coercion
Says his protest has remained peaceful, advises police to not follow any orders of aggression
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday warned the government of adverse consequences if it tried to deny, through the use of force, peaceful protesters their right to protest against the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections on November 30.
The warning was issued by PTI chief Imran Khan in the backdrop of the administration’s decision to block roads by installing shipping containers and increasing police deployment on the Constitution Avenue.
Addressing the sit-in on the 104th day, Imran sent out a message to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, saying: “Listen to me carefully… this is not August 14 and the party has now changed. You [Nawaz and Nisar] would be responsible for the happenings in case you tried to stop peaceful protesters.”
Imran said that the rulers are showing double standards as they on one hand are engaging in talks with the PTI team and on the other are blocking all the roads in the capital.
“No one can stop us from holding a peaceful protest; it’s a right given to us by the constitution,” he added while pointing out that his party’s ongoing sit-in has completed 104 days, yet it has remained peaceful, which has no precedence.
While recalling the August 31 tear gas shelling and torture by police, Imran said: “I will never forget it and will bring all those involved to justice one day.” He said our youth would not remain silent to the torture of police and this movement would spread all across the country.
Addressing police personnel, the PTI chairman asked them not to follow unconstitutional orders from the rulers, saying “you are not personal servants of the Sharif family.”
Imran Khan also gave both prime minster and his brother Shahbaz Sharif an open challenge to hold political rallies similar to PTI anywhere in the country. He even dared them to hold a rally in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying his government would assist them.
“I know they cannot hold rally anywhere in the country because they are afraid of ‘go Nawaz, go’ slogan,” he said, adding that “the slogan has become a weapon of mass destruction.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2014.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday warned the government of adverse consequences if it tried to deny, through the use of force, peaceful protesters their right to protest against the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections on November 30.
The warning was issued by PTI chief Imran Khan in the backdrop of the administration’s decision to block roads by installing shipping containers and increasing police deployment on the Constitution Avenue.
Addressing the sit-in on the 104th day, Imran sent out a message to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, saying: “Listen to me carefully… this is not August 14 and the party has now changed. You [Nawaz and Nisar] would be responsible for the happenings in case you tried to stop peaceful protesters.”
Imran said that the rulers are showing double standards as they on one hand are engaging in talks with the PTI team and on the other are blocking all the roads in the capital.
“No one can stop us from holding a peaceful protest; it’s a right given to us by the constitution,” he added while pointing out that his party’s ongoing sit-in has completed 104 days, yet it has remained peaceful, which has no precedence.
While recalling the August 31 tear gas shelling and torture by police, Imran said: “I will never forget it and will bring all those involved to justice one day.” He said our youth would not remain silent to the torture of police and this movement would spread all across the country.
Addressing police personnel, the PTI chairman asked them not to follow unconstitutional orders from the rulers, saying “you are not personal servants of the Sharif family.”
Imran Khan also gave both prime minster and his brother Shahbaz Sharif an open challenge to hold political rallies similar to PTI anywhere in the country. He even dared them to hold a rally in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying his government would assist them.
“I know they cannot hold rally anywhere in the country because they are afraid of ‘go Nawaz, go’ slogan,” he said, adding that “the slogan has become a weapon of mass destruction.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2014.