Express News screengrab of PTI chief Imran Khan.
A day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan visited Peshawar's Army Public School amid protesting parents and criticism over his large entourage, he flat out denied arriving at the school with a 21-car motorcade, claiming only six cars were used for his protocol.
"I was visiting the school with my wife, so other ministers and MPAs also joined us; this made the protocol look bigger," Imran clarified, while addressing the media on Thursday.
"I did not visit the school for the media. My wife and I wanted to visit the school for the children," he asserted.
The PTI chief reiterated that he was advised to not visit the school as the army chief was visiting it for its soft opening. "And then even when we did not visit the school on that day we were criticised," he said, adding that he was ready to pay a visit to the school again.
"I understand the sentiments of the parents. If I were in their position, I would also protest in the same manner," Imran admitted.
The Army Public School was attacked by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on December 16, resulting in the deaths of 150 people, including over 130 children.
Negotiations with the government
During the press conference, the PTI chief spoke about negotiations with the government based on his rigging allegations.
Imran reiterated that his party would announce their future plan of action on January 18, as there has been no response from the government since December 30.
He said PTI leader Jahangir Tareen has written a letter to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar "so that the country can stand on one platform."
"The letter simply states that we have prepared an ordinance on which the judicial commission will be formed, and we have also prepared an MoU. We will release this letter to the media today," he said.
COMMENTS (17)
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Mr Imran Khan your CM Khattak recently started a 200 Million ( 20 Crore ) Rs plaza Project in RawalPindi. From where he is earning so much money? Kindly investigate this matter. While Mr Khattak and you are pledging the business community to invest in KP but all of your investments are in Punjab only?. Also Mr Imran Khan why you dont have any residence in KP and you have to come back to Islamabad during the night. ? You are ruling KP and kindly try to live there atleast for a day. You visit KP once in a month and that too during the day only. How come locals will gain any confidence when their leaders even dont want to live in KP?
I didnt had the chance to watch this press conf. but was there anything ANYTHING about the threat made by Fazl Ullah or he said anything about TALIBAN
this is how tribune twist the statement. imran actual statement was that there were 6 police cars and remaining were of his party members and ministers
Imran khan and leaders like him thrive, not because they have a clearly defined political philosophy. They take advantage of the anger the masses have against the ruling elite. It is smart strategy for Imran to be the next ruler. When the massacre happenend at the school he was dumbfounded. For years he had riled against the west and drones. But it was the Taliban who killed innocent children in a cruel deal rate manner. Imagine if an American drone had killed these kids by mistake. Imran khan would have set up his dharna outside the school the very next day. However, his past allies, the Taliban did it, so it took him 30 days to vist the school. Shame.
Another habitual liar after Nawaz. Both are the biggest hypocrites.
Love you IK.... 6 cars is nothing comapred to what the other VIP get. AND your protocol did not block the roads. You remain the only true leader of Pakistan.
@Layman:
Nawaz Sharif was in the hospital visiting the injured the day after the massacre, Imran wasn't (he went back to his container to 'offer prayers for the dead'). I'm no fan of Nawaz and he shouldn't have gone to Saudi at this time, but don't let your Imran-mania obscure facts.
So IK haters expect a dozen people to travel in one car??? At least he has visited the school. The PM is on his second foreign trips since the PSH attack and has not visited the school. K-P or Punjab or whatever.. He is the PM...On a further note.. his grand daughter will be attending school at home.. and the parents have been told to worry about their children's security.. the govt can't help... I'm not making this up... recent news on ET...
I DO NOT CARE who the next PM will be but the current opposition leader is showing more initiative than the current PM..
@Chachoo: I don't see why one's residence ought to be altered based upon the province they got the most votes from. Nawaz Sharif rules all of Pakistan, do you in all honesty expect him to have a house in every city? ...Or in every province? Needless to add, PTI is a national party not a regional one and their party manifesto has never been restricted to the agenda of a few ethnic tribes within a particular region.
Having said that, the man continues to shoot himself in the foot with each press conference he holds. Since his entire party is built around the pull of his star power/perceived character the damage he continues to inflict upon PTI is immense. Is there really no-one in his party that has the ability to reign him in?
@Chachoo: I know your master NS has entrusted with the job of criticizing everything IK does. This is not to say all criticism is not valid.
IK does not 'rule' KPK. PTI has a coalition government that runs the province headed by Khattak. And KPK government does not live in London, Dubai or NY.
As for his 'investments' in Punjab are concerned, its mostly property that he inherited or bought many years ago. At least, all of his assets are in Pakistan, not in Dubai or London as Zardari and NS have.
I ashamed for you voting you khan..For God sake leave us alone and stop your nonsense.
@Chachoo: Good point, reminds me of how PM is asking people to invest in Pakistan, but majority of his investments are in UK and Saudi!
There were 21 cars,Jeeps and other vehicles.
Mr Imran Khan your CM Khattak recently started a 200 Million ( 20 Crore ) Rs plaza Project in RawalPindi. From where he is earning so much money? Kindly investigate this matter. While Mr Khattak and you are pledging the business community to invest in KP but all of your investments are in Punjab only?. Also Mr Imran Khan why you dont have any residence in KP and you have to come back to Islamabad during the night. ? You are ruling KP and kindly try to live there atleast for a day. You visit KP once in a month and that too during the day only. How come locals will gain any confidence when their leaders even dont want to live in KP?
if you are right 6 are also more for a person claim to have mattoo of no protocol, you should also confess further that 6 were of govt belongings and others party leaders, and i am really sorry for repeating the act of pakistani polticians for which they are renowned
Can any one please inform PM of Pakistan that instead of visiting saudi it would have been better for him to visit APS school where Pakistanis were masscared, instead his party is using the incident to play there dirty politics, at least khan had the courage to visit the APS school and we saw there reaction of the students in the APS, I think PM should take some steps to show that he is a PM of Pakistan and not of only Lahore..not a single central leader from PML N visited the families or school till now..
My humble request go all PTI representative and media cell - leave army public alone, this is not D zone.