November 30 rally: Imran issues clarion call to rally support
Asks supporters to reach Islamabad come what may.
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday called on party activists and supporters to reach Islamabad, ‘come what may’, by November 30 even as the court mandated negotiations over a no-objection certificate for the party’s planned rally failed to break the deadlock.
“What you are about to do on November 30 is not for yourself or for me. It is for our country,” he told hundreds of PTI workers and supporters in Lahore, two days ahead of what the party plans will be a ‘decisive’ gathering in Islamabad. “History will remember you for your role in making Pakistan a progressive country.”
Claiming the government was using police raids to deter people from participating in the November 30 rally, Imran urged his followers to remain calm and united. “‘They will try to scare you and stop you, but remember that you are not breaking any law,” he said.
“This is a peaceful protest and that is our democratic right… so you will not stop. Your captain will be waiting [in Islamabad],” the PTI chief added.
Imran said his party had evolved over the more than 100 days it has carried out its sit-in in Islamabad. “Today I see greater passion than I had seen in Lahore on August 14. We are a different party today from what we were then.”
He added that PTI’s continued protest against the government and rigging in the May 2013 elections had raised awareness among the public about its rights and the issues the country is facing.
The PTI chief said both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari “do not want to see justice delivered.”
“Both of them admit the [2013] elections were rigged but they never talk about accountability. They are afraid that they will be exposed.”
Back in Islamabad, while speaking to his followers at D-Chowk later in the evening, Imran claimed he had evidence of rigging in every constituency. He said he would reveal the evidence in a news conference today (Friday).
Status of NOC for November 30 rally
Negotiations between PTI representatives and Islamabad district administration officials failed to result in an NOC being issued for the party’s planned November 30 rally on Thursday after the former insisted on moving the venue closer to Parliament.
The talks, which were held after the two sides had been directed to ‘reach consensus’ on the matter by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier in the day, had resulted in the district administration verbally agreeing to allow PTI to hold a rally on Parade Avenue. But PTI’s wish to build a stage a little closer to Parliament led to a gridlock.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil said all that remained was for PTI to sign an affidavit containing 42 clauses discussed in the meeting. “The NOC will be issued after PTI signs the affidavit.”
“The only hurdle is the party’s insistence on moving the venue,” Sherdil added.
One of the organisers of PTI’s ongoing sit-in in Islamabad, Ali Nawaz Awan, said the party wanted to build its stage on the second layer of containers placed between the current venue and Parliament. “This area does not fall inside the Red Zone,” he said. “We have assured them we will not enter Constitution Avenue.” “We have already put all other conditions we agreed upon into practice,” Awan added.
According to a district administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the 42 clauses incorporated in the affidavit include conditions such as no show of weapons, no anti-state speeches, assurance that there will be no attack on public and private buildings and PTI’s full support to law enforcement agencies.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2014.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday called on party activists and supporters to reach Islamabad, ‘come what may’, by November 30 even as the court mandated negotiations over a no-objection certificate for the party’s planned rally failed to break the deadlock.
“What you are about to do on November 30 is not for yourself or for me. It is for our country,” he told hundreds of PTI workers and supporters in Lahore, two days ahead of what the party plans will be a ‘decisive’ gathering in Islamabad. “History will remember you for your role in making Pakistan a progressive country.”
Claiming the government was using police raids to deter people from participating in the November 30 rally, Imran urged his followers to remain calm and united. “‘They will try to scare you and stop you, but remember that you are not breaking any law,” he said.
“This is a peaceful protest and that is our democratic right… so you will not stop. Your captain will be waiting [in Islamabad],” the PTI chief added.
Imran said his party had evolved over the more than 100 days it has carried out its sit-in in Islamabad. “Today I see greater passion than I had seen in Lahore on August 14. We are a different party today from what we were then.”
He added that PTI’s continued protest against the government and rigging in the May 2013 elections had raised awareness among the public about its rights and the issues the country is facing.
The PTI chief said both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari “do not want to see justice delivered.”
“Both of them admit the [2013] elections were rigged but they never talk about accountability. They are afraid that they will be exposed.”
Back in Islamabad, while speaking to his followers at D-Chowk later in the evening, Imran claimed he had evidence of rigging in every constituency. He said he would reveal the evidence in a news conference today (Friday).
Status of NOC for November 30 rally
Negotiations between PTI representatives and Islamabad district administration officials failed to result in an NOC being issued for the party’s planned November 30 rally on Thursday after the former insisted on moving the venue closer to Parliament.
The talks, which were held after the two sides had been directed to ‘reach consensus’ on the matter by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier in the day, had resulted in the district administration verbally agreeing to allow PTI to hold a rally on Parade Avenue. But PTI’s wish to build a stage a little closer to Parliament led to a gridlock.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil said all that remained was for PTI to sign an affidavit containing 42 clauses discussed in the meeting. “The NOC will be issued after PTI signs the affidavit.”
“The only hurdle is the party’s insistence on moving the venue,” Sherdil added.
One of the organisers of PTI’s ongoing sit-in in Islamabad, Ali Nawaz Awan, said the party wanted to build its stage on the second layer of containers placed between the current venue and Parliament. “This area does not fall inside the Red Zone,” he said. “We have assured them we will not enter Constitution Avenue.” “We have already put all other conditions we agreed upon into practice,” Awan added.
According to a district administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the 42 clauses incorporated in the affidavit include conditions such as no show of weapons, no anti-state speeches, assurance that there will be no attack on public and private buildings and PTI’s full support to law enforcement agencies.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2014.