ISLAMABAD:
Unveiling his much-talked-about ‘Plan-C’ at a massive rally on Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan threatened a countrywide shutdown on December 16 if his longstanding demand for an independent audit of the May 2013 elections was not accepted.
“I will go to Lahore and shut it down on December 4. On December 8, I will shut down Faisalabad, on December 12, I will shut down Karachi, and on December 16, I will bring the entire country to a standstill if an inquiry is not initiated into the electoral fraud,” he told hundreds of thousands of his supporters on the Constitution Avenue in Islamabad.
Frenzied PTI supporters had converged on the federal capital from across the country for a rally that Imran had promised would be ‘historic and decisive’. It was a carnival atmosphere at the Constitution Avenue where PTI supporters, clad in the colours of the party flag, sang and danced to party songs. And young women and children, with party flags painted on their faces, shouted slogans in favour of their leader.
“I know the people of Lahore and Faisalabad are ready... I know Karachi is waiting for me,” Imran said, adding that his party was also ready for talks with the government. “The ball is now in your court, order investigations and resolve this issue,” Imran said addressing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “Otherwise, we will make it difficult for you to stay in power,” he said.
After December 16, the PTI would announce its ‘Plan D’, Imran said, adding that his party would neither call off its 109-day-long sit-in or its struggle against the electoral fraud till justice was served.
The PTI chief clarified that his agitation against the government was not for personal gains. “I’m not doing all this to become the country’s prime minister,” he added.
Referring to previous rounds of talks, Imran said the ruling PML-N had agreed to form a judicial commission and an investigation commission [under the judicial commission] comprising officials from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).
“Now we have given a fair proposal, the best we can offer, that the prime minister should not resign during investigations and we will continue our sit-in but there is no response from the government,” he added. “We want investigations into rigging and a result within four to six weeks under the supervision of the Supreme Court.”
The PTI chairman said his party has remained peaceful thus far, but what unfolded after December 4 would not be bearable for the rulers. “I am not asking for anything but my rights,” he said, adding that the status quo had left no option for him but to go to public.
The PTI chief said his party had two options: to fight or to accept injustice. “But if we let this issue go and decide not to take a stand against the rigging, the ruling elite will also rig the next election and come to power again,” he said.
Before making the big announcement, Imran put the entire scenario into perspective and discussed evidence – which the party claims it has – of pre- and post-elections rigging. He recalled his past statements where he had categorically said that he would take to streets if his rigging complaints were not addressed.
“After the elections, I asked for investigations into four constituencies from my hospital bed and on my first day in the National Assembly. Then I went to the Supreme Court. But nothing happened because all were involved in match-fixing,” he claimed.
He said it was through printing of extra ballots that the PML-N – which had received 6.8 million votes in 2008 elections – managed to bag 15 million votes in the 2013 elections. “The rulers rigged the elections and then denied us justice,” Imran pointed out.
He said the rulers would not spend money on the people, since they came to power through rigging and fake votes, and would go for projects like Metro bus from where they could get billions of rupees in kickbacks instead of spending on health and education.
The PTI chairman pointed out that in Pakistan 400,000 children died every year due non availability of clean drinking water, a woman died every 30 minutes during delivery and 25 million children were out of school.
Referring to Premier Nawaz Sharif’s recent speech in Havelian wherein he complained that Imran used harsh and derogatory language, Imran said he used harsh language because he was concerned for the welfare of the people.
He said the PPP and PML-N had established a partnership in 1988 and at that time the exchange rate of the dollar was Rs15 while it is Rs103. “The rulers have wreaked havoc with the country and stashed their money in foreign banks,” he added.
Imran also mentioned the recent anti-PTI media campaign of the government, saying that he would approach the court against the misuse of public money. “The government is using your [people’s] money and we will go to court for its misuse,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2014.
COMMENTS (27)
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Plan C Paralyze Pakistan. Is this the quality of a leader? He sounds more like TTP! Plan D would be to bomb cities and Plan E would be nuke Pakistan. Who needs enemies when you have People like IK who would go to any depth to become PM. He doesn’t respect Judiciary, or the election commission or anything else. With absolutely no regard for the people in his ownconstituency who are suffering as IDP’s, all promises of 90 days have gone down the drain. Infact, KP govt is reversing whatever good the previous govt has done in KP (for ex. Reversing educational reform). What now, wait for plan D which most likely is “bomb Pakistan”. Plan E could be “nuke Pakistan”.
@stevenson
Petrol prices down from 110/L to 87/L during the course of dharna.....this seems to be a huge damage to Pakistan... you sure need to get your brain checked out.
I don't know why people are much against Imran khan. Even though we all know that these current leaders will never bring any change in anything for the betterment of massas whether they rule for more then 100 years. Imran is a ray of hope for Pakistan.
What ever IK is to many and what ever he is doing, one thing is crystal clear that he did protest and wanted to have ballot verification in the 4 constituencies but some how it never materialized, it seems that there was massive vote rigging in those constituencies. There would have been no Dharna in Islamabad if verification would have been done in the 4 constituencies last year. I am not supporter of any political party but I must say that PTI has awaken the nation and specially the young generation and it is the young generation who is going to rule the country for the betterment of All Pakistanis. This current government and the parliament does not seems to be legitimate representatives of the people of Pakistan and they will not relinquish their cushy jobs unless they are forced to do by the people. These so called leaders has not yet recovered their investments in the 2013 elections and they will fleece the country as long as they could and deposit it in their foreign bank accounts, there is no doubt about it. PPP was the most corrupt government in the history of Pakistan and currently the PML-N is lagging not too far behind, they will surpass PPP’s poor performance and corruption.
"@Ch daad" What have honurable "Ch's" done for the country lately other than looting and plundering? recently two ch's fought in the parliament accusing each other and then settled down after exposing each other.
That half of Pak was already lost due to crazy civilian ch's in the western part who refuse to handover power to mujeeb, and massacre started much earlier before niazi went over there in the time of tikka khan. All you had was low moral troops with little or no supplies coming and facing enemies on every front. Local population was against you almost 100% plus mukti bahini and indian regular trops all fighting against you. Look at the map amnd see whee b'desh is. Somebody had to handover eventually, happened to be niazi. So not fair to accuse one person for overall failure and spread hate speech against an entire group of people
IK should wait for 43 Months (3.6 years) Insha Allah Nawaz Sharif resigned after that
When you listen to imran khan it is always about himself. I will do this, I will do that, I will shutdown lahore, I will shut down the country. I won the world cup, I am building a cancer hosptial. I this and I that. He has to be the most arrogant person in the world!!
So Khan sb knows that Plan C will fail... he has already promised to unveil Plan D soon!
PMLN is adamant to withstand all pressure and not to investigate the alleged election fraud. by doing that, they're confirming all suspicions that they know they cheated and are willing to go to any length to protect their illegitimate rule. Pakistanis who want their right to true democracy and their children's right to a better future, are standing on IK's side. those who don't care about democracy or future, or those who have vested interests, are criticizing IK.
PMLN and PPP are not digesting a third power in the country and that is PTI. GO NAWAZ GO.
Imagine getting paid around 8 lakh rupees a month and not even able to count and verify sixty one votes of a single constituency in two and a half years. We should send some kindergarten kids to help them. The election commission is a retirement retreat for these judges and naturally no action can be taken against them. When justice is not being served in time then justice is done by people themselves.
We are with you IK.....Crush Family Democracy...
WHy is Nawaz so afraid of the election audit if he has not done anything wrong? Open your eyes people! Let go of your slave masters!
@Ch. Allah Daad:
"General Niazi surrendered half of Pakistan to our arch rivals."
Struggling from memory loss or lack of logic or plain ignorance or arrogance?
General Niazi surrendered Pak army to your arch rival. Half of your country was never yours to surrender to someone. The rightful owner of the land took it from you.
Only Plan U of IK will succeed. Plan U being taking a U turn.
The very reason of existence of the corporate media that ET is - is to make profits - after looking at Express group's status-quo support - They have preferred money to more viewership therefore i will boycott Express TV and will discontinue with Tribune their Paper edition.
Some one should tell IK, in this country, without raising finger by empire nothing happens. Currently empire is touring US. Sitting PM is more wise and already agreed defence and foreign affairs will be dealt by military. Why then IK wasting time. Better convince the empire to reconsider the strategy and motivate him to rasie his finger. Insiders say might be IK is planted by empire to continue pressure on PML (N) so he does not strike back to take foreign and defence matters. What a country Pakistan is?
PML(N) should resolve before 16th DEC
Nawaz, people are looking for entertainment, arrange a touring circus to go all towns.
Who is paying for all this??
Plan C Paralyze Pakistan. Is this the quality of a leader? He sounds more like TTP! Plan D would be to bomb cities and Plan E would be nuke Pakistan. Who needs enemies when you have People like IK who would go to any depth to become PM. He doesn't respect Judiciary, or the election commission or anything else. With absolutely no regard for the people in his ownconstituency who are suffering as IDP's, all promises of 90 days have gone down the drain. Infact, KP govt is reversing whatever good the previous govt has done in KP (for ex. Reversing educational reform).
What now, wait for plan D which most likely is "bomb Pakistan". Plan E could be "nuke Pakistan".
To be followed of course by plans D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, etc etc etc over the next few years!
Go Nawaz Go
What ever IK is to many and what ever he is doing, one thing is crystal clear that he did protest and wanted to have ballot verification in the 4 constituencies but some how it never materialized, it seems that there was massive vote rigging in those constituencies. There would have been no Dharna in Islamabad if verification would have been done in the 4 constituencies last year. I am not supporter of any political party but I must say that PTI has awaken the nation and specially the young generation and it is the young generation who is going to rule the country for the betterment of All Pakistanis. This current government and the parliament does not seems to be legitimate representatives of the people of Pakistan and they will not relinquish their cushy jobs unless they are forced to do by the people. These so called leaders has not yet recovered their investments in the 2013 elections and they will fleece the country as long as they could and deposit it in their foreign bank accounts, there is no doubt about it. PPP was the most corrupt government in the history of Pakistan and currently the PML-N is lagging not too far behind, they will surpass PPP's poor performance and corruption.
General Niazi surrendered half of Pakistan to our arch rivals. Now once again another Niazi has been selected to destroy Pakistan on the same date of defeat. Honourable Niazis should never let him happen.
You missed the boat and you know it. You could have accepted the four or five points in August and walked out a hero but the delusional maniac that you have proved to be prevented you from availing the opportunity. Every antic you have displayed since has proved conclusively that you are not prime ministerial material. You had a great opportunity to be a constant and effective pressure group in parliament and keep NS, ZAB and his cronies on their toes - you were even offered the post of head, public accounts committee, but you blew it. The mob that you are charging for anarchy may also turn and lynch you for frittering away opportunities again and again. Truth, you should remember, does prevail in the end and your naked grab for power will not ever be forgotten.
Imran Khan has damaged the country enough. It's time for people to just ignore this crazed power hungry man who has no respect for the stability of the country. Using foul language, wasting millions on dharnas, breaking and being a nuisance is unbecoming of anyone. Imran Khan thinks he is better than everyone else because he is some VIP cricketer. No Imran Khan ; Just go to your container and cry. Ro Imran Ro!