All PTI leaders, activists released from jails,
Imran puts country’s interest first, says he’s ready to forgive everyone
Lahore/Islamabad_Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday expressed willingness to forgive everyone for the sake of the country including the assailants who involved and orchestrated the Wazirabad attack in November last year.
Addressing his party supporters on the campaign for the upcoming Punjab elections via video link from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, the deposed premier at the outset of his address lauded PTI’s stalwarts for contributing to the court arrest drive and said the party’s leaders were treated like terrorists in jail, and the incumbent rulers lodged fake cases against workers to harass them.
He added that 74 cases have been registered against him by the ruling PDM, adding PTI will never kowtow to the government.
The PTI chief alleged that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have hatched another plot to kill him, months after he survived an assassination attempt in Wazirabad during his party’s long march.
“Both had damaged the investigation process in the case of attempt on my life as they were afraid of my return to power,” added Mr Imran.
“We sacrificed our governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa keeping in view the Constitution as lawyers had told that elections could not delayed beyond 90 days,” he said while assuring the judiciary of full support.
He reiterated that a snap election is the only way to pull the country out of the quagmire as the upcoming government through the masses’ faith could halt the economic meltdown.
Recalling his government’s achievements, he said during the pandemic, Pakistan’s growth rate clocked in at 6pc despite the global inflation cycle, but today due to failed policies of Shehbaz-led government industries are shutting down, and skyrocketing inflation crushing masses more than ever. Imran also warned the people that petroleum prices will further see a historical rise.
“NAB had recovered Rs480 billion during PTI’s tenure, NAB had to recover 1100 billion more but the PDM amended NAB rules to benefit themselves,” said Imran.
“I will begin distributing party tickets for the upcoming elections in two weeks, and I will give the tickets myself after interviewing of candidates because in the last elections, our party witnessed turncoats who went against the party’s ideology,” said the PTI chairman.
“I am ready to talk to everyone, I know who was involved in the assassination attack, I am ready to forgive attacker, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, When he came out, he forgave everyone, today Pakistan is facing economic woes, everyone will have to come together,” said Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, On the Lahore High Court orders, the authorities have released all PTI leaders and workers who courted arrest in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan during the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ of the party.
The PTI leaders including Shah Mehmood Qureshi was released from Attock District Jail, Asad Umar from Rajanpur District Jail and Umar Sarfraz Cheema was freed from Bhakkar Jail.
Besides them, Azam Swati was released from District Jail in Rahim Yar Khan and Murad Raas was freed from Central Jail, Dera Ghazi Khan. On this occasion, Haneef Pitafi, Zartaj Gull and Waleed Iqbal were also present.
The supporters of Jail Bharo movement could not even two barracks as only 435 leaders and activists court-arrested throughout Punjab.
As many as 75 were arrested in Lahore, 115 in Gujranwala, 59 in Sargodha, 47 in Rawalpindi and four in Narowal.
Forty-one PTI workers who surrendered to authorities in Rawalpindi were released from District Jail, Hafizabad. Former MPA Raja Khurram Zaman was also among those who were freed.
Eight-three party workers including Asad Umar were freed from District Jail, Rajanpur.
As many as 24 PTI activists including Umar were shifted to Rajanpur jail from Lahore and 59 party workers were shifted there from Sargodha. .
It is to be noted that the PTI activists who courted arrest, were shifted by the authorities to far off places of Punjab where they were to be detained for 30 days under the MPO.
Last night, 6 leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf including Zulfi Bukhari and Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan released from the Shahpur prison
Speaking on the occasion, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said crooks could never make New Pakistan, adding that the country’s foreign policy should be based on self-respect and dignity. He further said that in 2018, PTI’s success remained incomplete but this time, Punjab has given the party a thumping mandate.
While talking to media, Asad Umar said that he was proud that the Tehreek-e-Insaf was the party whose leader was the identity of Pakistan and its hope.
He was optimistic that the Haqeeqi Azadi movement which was running under the leadership of Imran Khan would bring success to 220 million Pakistanis.
“Decisions made in closed rooms are going to end and now the country will run with the decisions of 220 million people,” he added.
A large number of PTI workers were standing outside the Rajanpur jail to receive their leaders who were freed.
On Friday, the Lahore High Court ordered for the release of all PTI leaders who courted arrest following the party Chairman Imran Khan’s call for “Jail Bharo Tehreek” last week.
