News
June 03 , 2022
Imran Defends Decision to Call off Planned Sit-inPeshawar: Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan defended Friday his decision to call off a planned, opened-ended rally and sit-in this week in the capital, Islamabad, saying he wanted to avoid more violence.
Khan spoke at a news conference in the northwestern city of Peshawar. His rally ended abruptly on Thursday morning, after thousands of Khan supporters had marched into central Islamabad to protest outside Parliament and demand early elections.
Some members from his Tehreek-e-Insaf party were unhappy with Khan’s decision as the sit-in had expected to go on until the government met their demands.
Khan's march on Islamabad, which started Wednesday, was the largest rally by the former cricket star turned Islamist politician over the past few weeks. He personally led thousands of supporters from Peshawar, urging his countrymen to “liberate” Pakistan from the allegedly US-imposed government of his successor Shahbaz Sharif.
Dozens of his supporters and more than 100 policemen were injured in scuffles when clashes broke out between demonstrators and police in Islamabad and elsewhere in the country.
Authorities have arrested more than 1,700 Khan supporters; they claim Khan ended his rally after seeing poor popular response, with the crowd numbering only between 10,000 and 15,000.
At the press conference Friday, Khan said he saw that large-scale violence could erupt at any moment as riot police had already fired tear gas and charged his supporters, beating them with batons.
“This is what forced me to call off the sit-in in the best interest of the country," he said, and condemned Sharif for ordering a crackdown against his party.
Khan also renewed his threat of another massive march next week unless Sharif’s government calls early elections.
Sharif insisted in a televised speech later Friday that there was no US conspiracy against his predecessor. His government has rejected Khan's demands for early elections.
He also defended his decision to slash fuel subsidies imposed by Khan, saying that was a violation of conditions set by the International Monetary Fund. Fuel prices were raised to save Pakistan's economy from bankruptcy, Sharif added. - AP
According to Dawn, former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday dispelled reports that he had struck a deal in exchange for ending the party's Azadi March, saying that he did so in order to avoid bloodshed. He regretted how police officials attacked the participants of the march, blaming the government for hand-picking officers to target the PTI.
"Our workers asked why we did not stage a sit-in. I am the man who staged a sit-in for 126 days. It was not difficult for me, but by the time I reached I became aware of the extent of the situation [...] I knew that day that there would be bloodshed."
Imran said the people were "ready" after seeing the "terrorism" carried out through the police. "Everyone was ready to fight, some of our people were so angered by what they saw," he said, adding that officials were instructed to brutalize protesters.
"The anger at the time, if I had staged a sit-in that day, I can guarantee that there would have been bloodshed," he said, adding that there was a prevailing sense of hatred against police officials.
"But the police is also ours, it is not their fault," the PTI chairman said, blaming the government for issuing the directives. If there was violence then it would only have caused chaos in the country, he said.
"Do not think it was our weakness and don't think that a deal was made. I am hearing strange things that a deal was made with the establishment. I did not make a deal with anyone," he said, adding that the only motive behind his actions was concern for the country.
He also made it clear that the PTI would not negotiate with or accept the "imported government".
"I think of this as a jihad. I will stand up against this as long as I am alive," he said, reiterating that he only cared about the future of the country.
Imran again stressed on his six-day ultimatum to the government for the announcement of early elections. "If they do not clearly announce a date for the elections or for the dissolution of the assemblies, I will take to the streets again. Let me make it clear, this time we will be prepared."
He said that protesters were not prepared for the way they were attacked by the police. After the Supreme Court issued the order, we thought all the blockades would be removed and there would be no issue with the police, he said.
Imran claimed that the government was "afraid", pointing out how they pressured media channels and slowed down internet services. "No one knew what was going on. There was confusion."
He also termed his party workers "heroes" for taking to the streets in the national interest. "You came out for the country's haqeeqi azadi (true freedom)."
'Have written letter to CJP'
Lamenting how people were injured due to shelling at Islamabad's D-Chowk, Imran said he had written to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial asking whether or not the party had the right to stage a peaceful protest in a democracy.
"This is the fundamental right of a citizen [...] I ask our judiciary, do you think we will remain silent [like] sheep and accept all of this? If you think this, it means that we are pushing the country towards treason. If you do not allow people to stage peaceful protests, what other options do they have left?"
He said that he had written a letter to the CJP to make his position "clear", reiterating that he would take to the streets again after six days. In six days, we will find out whether or not the apex court protects our fundamental rights, he said.
The manner in which lawyers and women were forced to disembark from a bus and were "beaten", had anyone seen something like that before, he asked.
"Which justice system allows this? The entire nation should know who stands for [their] rights and who is carrying out oppression."
Responding to a question from a reporter, Imran reiterated that the party would take to the streets once again after the six-day deadline, calling on the SC to provide protection. But if the government uses the same tactics, then they will be responsible for the direction the country will head toward, he added.
Imran also said that the door for negotiating with the government was always open. "We are not here to fight. Our only objective is elections in June and dissolution of assemblies."
He said that the best way to achieve this would be to do this through talks, but if they did not succeed then protests would be the way to go.