Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has asked his supporters protesting across the country against the ECP verdict disqualifying him in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference to end protests and wait for his call for the long march.
“I will give you a call [for long march] and this will be the country’s largest protest movement. This movement will not stop until the rule of law is established in the country,” he announced in a pre-recorded message.
He asked the PTI supporters to disperse, saying: “You are already in a difficult phase and I don’t want you to remain in trouble.”
Earlier on Friday, a four-member ECP bench declared Imran Khan’s National Assembly seat vacant as it unanimously decided that he had provided incorrect information in the case and disqualified him “for the time being”.
The verdict de-seated Imran as per Article-63 (A) and ordered the initiation of criminal proceedings against him for submitting a false statement. However, the ECP shied away from declaring the deposed premier disqualified for life.
The PTI leadership has announced that it will challenge the decision in court.
Earlier, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet said on Friday that “Imran Khan would give a message to the nation tonight. His message will be released to the media at 8.30[pm].”
Later, PTI leader Azhar Mashwani said in a tweet that the party’s chairman video message would be released at 9.30pm.
Soon after the verdict, the PTI supporters and leaders took to the streets to protest against the ruling in major cities across the country.
The PTI chief has directed his supporters to stage peaceful protests across the country and not to resort to violence.
ECP’s verdict steeped the country into agitation as angry PTI workers started protests against the decision, seen as a massive political blow to Khan’s party.
Following the announcement of the verdict, chaotic scenes were witnessed outside the ECP office where enraged PTI workers converged in large numbers, chanting slogans against the government.
According to police, three major arteries leading to Islamabad have been blocked by the district administrator to avoid any untoward incident.
The Islamabad traffic police advised commuters to use Peshawar Road or Lehtrar Road as Chungi No 26 and Athal Chowk in Bhara Kahu area have been closed to all types of traffic due to the protests and security concerns.
In Peshawar, protesters blocked a road near Pir Zakordi bridge and another near Stadium Chowk. They also put traffic on hold after burning tyres on the Motorway near the toll plaza.
Meanwhile, in Karachi, protesters led by party leaders Ali Zaidi, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Mehmood Moulvi, and others staged a sit-in outside the Sindh ECP office. Reportedly, PTI workers tried to force their way into the ECP building but were repelled by the police amid thunderous slogan-chanting.
In Charsadda protesters thronged the Farooq-e-Azam Chowk, where they were confronted by the ANP workers. Both sides shouted slogans against each other in the presence of a heavy contingent of police; however, no clash was reported.
Swabi also emerged on the protest map after PTI cohorts barricaded the Mardan and Jehangir roads for traffic. Life in Shabqadar was also reported to have suffered from the PTI protests.
However, part of Mardan was seen cheering Imran Khan’s disqualification by distributing sweets among each other. A poor labourer from Mardan in a video message said he was so happy that Khan was gone. “I am poor so I could only buy half a kg of sweetmeat,” the labourer said.
According to reports pouring in from Naushehra, hundreds of fuming Khan fans crowded at Shawera Chowk and recorded their protest, which is currently underway.
Moreover, Mangora Road in Swat has also been closed by the protesters. PTI’s supporters have also kicked off a protest at Shahdra Chowk in Lahore.
On the contrary, Hafizabad, a PML-N stronghold, was a scene of celebration with the N-league workers rejoicing over the ECP’s decision saying Imran Khan’s chapter had finally come to an end.
PTI youths blocked the M5 Motorway near Billiwala area in Multan’s suburbs, according to reports, while protesters sat in the middle of Delhi-Multan road in Vehari, bringing the heavy traffic to a halt.
Chinot also saw disturbance as agitation hit the city after Khan’s disqualification as PTI workers assembled outside DHQ office in Satellite Town to decry the decision.
