Only six cars in protocol during Army Public School visit, not 21: Imran
PTI chief says other ministers, MPAs joined him and his wife for the visit which he made for 'students, not for PR'
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.
"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.