PTI to go ahead with nationwide shutdown unless judicial commission is formed: Imran

PTI chief says PML-N started negotiations because of the ‘pressue’ in Faisalabad

LAHORE: December 18 nationwide shutdown will not be postponed unless a judicial commission is formed to probe 2013 election rigging, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said on Monday.

Speaking to the media outside his residence in Bani Gala, Imran apologised to the people of Lahore for today's shutdown and reminded them that the current struggle has been going on for four months.

“Sacrifices have to be made for freedom, truth and rights,” he said addressing the residents of Lahore. “If you don’t sacrifice today, you children may have to make that sacrifice.”

“Of the four constituencies that we had demanded a recount for, fraud is obvious in two and half of them,” he said, indicating the ruling of an election tribunal. “They wasted a year and a half and left us no route but to take to the streets.”

“If they do not unleash their ‘gullus’ on us, I guarantee you there will be peace,” he said, adding that PTI activists have been instructed to let media vans and ambulances move freely.

Imran also asked the media to take pictures and footage of those who disrupt the peace. He said if they are proved to be PTI activists, they will be ‘expelled’.

"And if miscreants carrying PTI flags try to malign us, we should be able to identify them," he added.

Commenting on the disruption in talks between PTI and the government, Imran said PML-N started negotiations when they felt threatened but suspended them as soon as the threat disappeared.

"They started negotiation because of the ‘pressue’ in Faisalabad; if we withdraw the ‘pressure’, they will withdraw from the talks," he claimed.

"If they want, we can wrap this up in 48 hours," he further said.