-Urges supporters to come to capital as ‘Punjab Police will not follow CM Hamza’s orders after Supreme Court verdict’
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GUJRANWALA: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday claimed that families of army personnel will also join him on his march towards Islamabad.
He said that police officials will also send their families with the participants of the long march to the federal capital.
“Not only the police officials. The families of government servants will also be joining. I also know that the family of my army will also be coming with us, God willing,” the ousted premier said while addressing a rally here.
He once again hailed the Supreme Court’s decision a day earlier which stated that defecting lawmakers’ votes could not be counted.
The top court announced its opinion on the presidential reference seeking interpretation of Article 63-A.
After the apex court’s verdict, the fate of the Punjab government now hangs in the balance as chief minister Hamza Shehbaz was elected to the post with the help of the votes of 24 PTI dissident MPAs.
“I want to pay tribute to Supreme Court because it has gotten rid of some people. Supreme Court not only got rid of them but also embarrassed them,” Imran told the large gathering.
Saying that Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz might no longer be in his position after the apex court’s decision, he urged his supporters to come for a long march to Islamabad because not Punjab Police will not create any trouble for them.
“No one was thinking when I will be removed from power, people will take to streets. I want you to come to Islamabad for two reasons. One is because of the US conspiracy. Secondly, to get rid of these criminals who have been imposed upon us.”
The PTI chief said that Pakistan’s industries flourished under his government’s tenure and most industries were established in Pakistan after former president Ayub Khan’s era.
“The entire world was under pandemic. India’s economy was in ruin. During that time we saved our people from coronavirus as well as from poverty. We collected the most tax in the history of Pakistan. We reduced the price of petrol and diesel,” he added.
Imran Khan said his government was removed from power because Pakistan was achieving economic prosperity. “We were on the rise but these dacoits brought the government down with the help of US,” he added.
“When our nation was heading towards prosperity they (current government) toppled our government. Shehbaz Sharif polished the shoes of American ambassadors. Once Maryam Nawaz invited an American ambassador and the way she acted towards her, she might as well have let her walk on her.”
Imran also said that Pakistan’s biggest thieves and mafia leaders have banded together but thanked the Almighty as the nation has risen and stood up against them. “These mafias that suck the blood of the nation will receive their comeuppance,” he added.
Lashing out at former president Asif Ali Zardari, Imran Khan said that Zardari was Pakistan’s biggest beemari (disease). “Zardari was happy that all the abuses are being hurdled at Shehbaz. Asif Zardari is the biggest beemari for this nation. He’s enjoying being in the Centre as well as in Sindh and making money. Zardari, you’re too much for Shehbaz.”
The former prime minister said that the Sharif brothers are stuck and don’t know what to do. “They have the ocean in front of them and behind them, they see Imran Khan along with the entire nation…. what can they do? they’re stuck,” he said and added that there will be an ocean of people in Islamabad soon which will bring an end to the current government’s rule.
“People ask Shehbaz Sharif what he has done? Why was he in a hurry to become prime minister? Because he had a case and was about to be punished by the FIA. So he used a foreign conspiracy to evade punishment. Shehbaz doesn’t be delusional, we will not let you go,” he added.
“Someone asked me who was involved in bringing your government down, I said all of them… they needed a collective effort to bring me down but don’t care about the premiership because my nation has risen.”
“Remember when we become a nation that is united then we won’t face any difficulty and we will be able to pay off our debts. We will make Pakistan thrive. When I came into politics 26 years ago I promised that I will never let Pakistan bow before to anyone.”
He said that the nation will become what Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal intended it to be. “We won’t bow before anyone except God. We will not bow before any superpower,” he added.
