Qureshi says Imran to lead rally tomorrow

LAHORE– Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Sunday that his party needed no permission to stage an electoral campaign.

Speaking to private television, Mr Khan lashed out at the government, saying, “The government resorted to the tactics of delaying the elections”. The deposed premier took a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president Maryam Nawaz, questioning, “Whether it will run as per the constitution or it will run at the will of Maryam Nawaz.”

He lashed out at the political opponents, claiming, “They have now resorted to the tactics of rigging the elections.”

Mr Khan lamented that Ms Nawaz was getting protocol during the electoral campaign.

“The government had made a plan to bring me to Balochistan after my arrest. We have our plan in case of my arrest,” added Mr Khan.

Speaking about the PML-N, Mr Khan claimed, “Maryam Nawaz is responsible for the PML-N’s fall, not me.”

Earlier today, former prime minister Imran Khan announced to postpone till tomorrow the election rally earlier scheduled to be taken out from Zaman Park to Data Ganj Bakhsh Shrine on Sunday.

The announcement came after the interim Punjab government refused to withdraw Section 144 imposed in the provincial capital.

“It seems again that Section 144 has been imposed illegally solely on the PTI election campaign as all other public activities are ongoing in Lahore,” Khan said in a series of tweets.

“Clearly, like March 8, Punjab CM and police want to provoke clashes to file more sham FIRs against the PTI leadership and workers and use it as a pretext for postponing elections.

“The rally could be held either tomorrow or day after tomorrow,” PTI leader Hammad Azhar said while addressing media in the provincial capital.

The decision comes after PTI challenged the Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government in Lahore in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ahead of its election rally in the provincial capital.

PTI leader Babar Awan filed the plea in the ECP on the instructions of party Chairman Imran Khan.

Earlier ,The Punjab government Saturday night again announced imposing Section 144 (banning of large gatherings) in Lahore to avoid any “untoward incidents”.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Sunday that PTI chief Imran Khan would himself lead the rally tomorrow (Monday) while advising the party supporters to remain peaceful.

Talking to media outside the Zaman Park, he said he he had a detailed conversation with Imran Khan and briefed him about the situation while mentioning the PTI was facing discriminatory behavior.

He said the PTI would not stage a rally today and the PTI supporters were going their houses in a peaceful manner but the incumbent rulers wanted to create chaos in the country.

He said the PTI supporters faced torture on March 8 and one of the workers lost his life as a result of violence.

The PTI’s stalwart added the PTI workers should not fall into the trap of the current imported government and said the PTI remained peaceful despite the killing of its one worker.