OKARA: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan while calling former prime minister Nawaz Sharif a coward, said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N chief is incapable of initiating a movement against the judiciary.
The PTI chief was addressing a large crowd of party workers and supporters at a party rally at Okara’s football ground.
The PTI chairman jibed at Nawaz’s earlier statement about running a campaign protesting the recent judgement in the disqualification reference, which cleared Imran Khan.
Imran said that in the disqualification reference against him, he provided 60 documents in the judicial proceedings, whereas, Nawaz only presented a Qatari letter to justify his wealth.
“Have you ever run a campaign?” said Imran, mocking the former prime minister.
Imran Khan while directing his statements to Nawaz Sharif, said that corruption is carried out while holding power. “I have never been in power,” said Imran.
“Since four years PTI has been in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ask anyone if I ever built any factory, took a loan or did nepotism, and if you can prove even one thing I will leave politics,” said Imran.
The PTI chief asked the participants to guard the rights of minorities, while condemning the terrorist attack on a church in Quetta today.
He said that the nation should give equal rights to minorities so that they can have equal participation in the making of new Pakistan.
The PTI chief asked the participants to guard the rights of minorities, while condemning the terrorist attack on a church in Quetta.
Earlier, the party chairman arrived at the venue and was seated alongside other top PTI leaders, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, Aleem Khan, and others on an 80-feet long stage specially set up for the rally.
PML-N leader and federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique had a strong reaction to Imran’s speech, calling him a jackal while likening Nawaz to a lion.
The federal minister sent a series of tweets following Imran’s speech in Okara rally.
“Imran was right, jackals cannot run a campaign, hence Imran is incapable of leading a movement,” said Rafique.
He said that Nawaz headed a movement for the judiciary’s restoration while Imran was hiding in Islamabad.
PTI rally in Okara
A large crowd of supporters, including several women, had gathered at the venue for the PTI rally. PTI member Ashraf Sonhar earlier told media that seating arrangements had been made for about 20,000 people for the rally.
According to the DPO, a separate enclosure has been set for women, and rally participants would undergo security checking before entering the venue.
Preparations were also made for helipad at a cricket ground near the rally site.
The PTI rally in Okara comes two days after the Supreme Court disqualified former-Secretary General Jahangir Tareen but ruled in favour of chairperson Imran Khan in its judgment on two disqualification petitions filed by Hanif Abbasi, a leader of the ruling and PTI’s rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The Supreme Court ruled that Imran had not been disqualified as a parliamentarian as the petitioner was not directly affected in the foreign funding case.
However, the apex court ruled that Tareen cannot be termed ‘honest and sagacious’ and stands disqualified for life as per Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution. It also said the PTI leader used suspicious terms in his statements to the court, besides not declaring his offshore company.
But on Saturday, Khan said that no financial wrongdoing was found against Jahangir Tareen and that he was disqualified “only on interpretation of trust deed”.
In a tweet, Imran remarked: “Diff[erence] between JKT [Jahangir Khan Tareen] & NS [Nawaz Sharif] is stark in JKT’s principled position & NS holding on to party office. Also unlike NS who is guilty of corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, concealment of assets; no financial wrongdoing found ag JKT – disqualified only on interpretation of Trust deed.”
Imran further said that the difference between Tareen and deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif is stark, as Nawaz is guilty of corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and concealment of assets.
He added, “JKT you have shown unswerving commitment to the cause of Naya Pakistan & worked with utmost dedication for our cause. For me it doesn’t matter whether you hold a position in PTI or are in Parliament, you will always remain right next to me as we build Naya Pakistan InshaAllah.”
