Showdown in PML-N bastion? PTI drops D-Chowk rally for Lahore on October 9

Imran Khan says if ECP members do not resign by October 11, his party will hold protest in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) on Tuesday changed its plan to hold a rally at D-Chowk and instead announced a rally in Lahore on October 9, just 48 hours ahead of by-elections in NA-122.

“We have decided not to give up and hold a rally in Lahore on October 9, instead of Islamabad (October 4) as we know the government wanted to put us on a collision course and shift the responsibility on us,” PTI chairman Imran Khan said while addressing a press conference.

The PTI chairman said that his party’s struggle against the ECP members, provincial election commissioners, would continue till they step down.

“Our protest against the ECP members would not stop and we will hold rally in Islamabad after October 11, the polling day for NA-122,” Imran added.

According to the schedule issued by the ECP, by elections in NA-122 (where former National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was de-seated) would take place on October 11. The by-election in NA-154 was also scheduled for October 11 but Supreme Court has issued a stay order.

Under the rules, political parties cannot hold any public gathering and hold rallies 48 hours ahead of the polling day. The party has taken Islamabad administration’s refusal to allow a rally at D-Chowk as an opportunity to mobilise the voters of Lahore.

Read: Imran announces protest outside ECP headquarters on October 4

Addressing the press conference at his Bani Gala residence, Khan said that holding peaceful protest is his democratic right as enshrined by the Constitution. In case the government tried to stop our protest, they would be responsible for the consequence, he warned.

Flanked by K-P Chief Minister Parvez Khattak and Jahangir Tareen, Khan hit hard at the ECP saying, “ECP had conflict of interest and it would wish the PTI to lose so that they could disapprove the allegations.”

PTI chief referred to findings of the judicial commission and said that there are 40 findings about the ECP, and while the judicial commission called it ‘incompetence’, PTI calls it 'rigging.'

Imran also indirectly hit out at the Supreme Court's latest court order that suspended an election tribunal’s decision to de-seat PML-N MNA and conduct re-elections in the NA-154 (Lodhran-I).

"What kind of judicial system do we have?” said Imran, while highlighting the lengthy process in which it took him and other party leaders to receive justice from the courts.

“I had gone for the sit-in just to unveil the judicial and electoral system before you.”

Read: SC suspends tribunal's verdict to de-seat PML-N MNA, stays re-poll in NA-154

Khan said that the SC had issued a stay order just 12 days ahead of the by-election. "I will not comment on the SC order,” while shifting burden on ruling PML-N by saying, “It has a tradition to hide behind stay orders.”

“You [the PML-N] had said to face the PTI in the court of people [elections] but why are you running now?” he questioned.

“I will pull the people out and awaken them in Lahore but I am afraid that they would once again seek a stay order,” he added.

Meanwhile, PTI chairman appealed to the government to trace missing Pakistani Hajjis with the help of Saudi government. In addition, he asked Muslim countries to make sure that Saudi Arabia holds a fair inquiry to avert any such tragedy in future.