Need of the hour: PTI calls off its protest
Speaking atop his container at D-Chowk in Islamabad, Imran said that after being briefed by the Peshawar Corps Commander, he sat down with his party and deliberated on what they should do next. “I came to the conclusion that given the situation today, we must end our protest.”
“What is the demand right now, and that is to stand united and to together tackle the perpetratrors of this attack,” he said adding that it was not the time for them to stage opposition.
However, he added that the protest he had been leading for the past four months wanted the 2013 elections probed to ensure that a government in power had been elected through free, fair and transparent means. In lieu of this, the PTI chief asserted that the demand of the nation also was for the May 2013 elections to be probed.
“We had vowed that we will remain here till elections are probed and Nawaz Sharif resigns. We relaxed our demands that he should not resign till the investigations are completed. As a last resort we shut down three cities. If anyone has the street power to shut cities down, it is PTI.”
He claimed that in the four months that they had staged a sit-in in Islamabad and the protest rallies in other cities of Pakistan, the nation had awakened. But now the time was for the premier to take the first step forward.
“We expect you [Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif] to immediately form a judicial commission based on what we have discussed, to investigate the elections within the set timeframe. If the elections were not rigged we will accept you, you, as prime minister.
“If an impartial judicial commission determines that the elections were rigged and those responsible are punished, a new Pakistan will be formed.”
Imran forewarned that though they are ending their protest, they will not rest till they get justice and that they will return onto the streets if justice is not done.
Nawaz welcomes Imran’s announcement
Prime Minister Nawaz welcomed PTI chief’s announcement of call off his sit-in, a statement from the PM House read.
Nawaz said that Imran's step would help strengthen the war against terrorism.
He vowed that Imran and PTI's apprehensions regarding election would be addressed.
Nawaz further requested Imran Khan to return to the National Assembly and to play his role according to the wishes of the people.
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