LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday resumed its Long March from the same spot in Wazirabad where the party Chief Imran Khan was injured during an attempted assassination.
PTI’s Haqeeqi Azadi march, which demanded early and fair elections, was brought to an abrupt halt after Imran was shot in the leg during a procession.
The Former Prime Minister and several other PTI leaders were injured after a man opened fire near the PTI reception camp at Allahwala Chowk during party’s Haqeeqi Azadi march. Addressing the party supporters, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is leading the rally, said that PTI would not give up on its struggle for freedom despite an assassination attempt. Addressing Long March participants through video link, Imran Khan on Thursday urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial to look into four things including FIR of Wazirabad attack, Azam Swati video scandal and brutal assassination of Arshad Sharif.
The marchers set off from the same place where Khan was shot on Nov. 3. The former cricket star, who is still recuperating from his injuries, will join the convoy once it’s closer to the capital in about two weeks.
Imran Khan said the thieves have no relation with the religion and only care about concealing their theft. He said no action was taken over torture on PTI leader Shahbaz Gill and Senator Azam Swati, adding that whatever is happening in the country is bringing bad name to the country across the world.
The former PM while raising question on presence of pictures of slain journalist Arshad Sharif said that his mother is not being provided the postmortem report despite repeated demands.
“I knew the plan. The plot was prepared in September,” Khan told his supporters, without presenting any evidence for his claims. “The march will just get strengthened after this incident.”
Khan has described the shooting as an “assassination attempt” and blamed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for being behind the attack.
Khan was ousted in April in a no-confidence vote in Parliament, but he says his removal was unlawful and a conspiracy by his political opponents orchestrated by the United States, a charge denied by both Washington and Sharif.
Khan’s protest convoy started from Lahore two weeks ago with Khan and thousands of his supporters – in trucks, cars or on foot – marching toward Islamabad for what was to be an open-ended rally until his demands were met.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sons Qasim and Suleman Khan arrived in Lahore to meet their wounded father. Provincial Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal received them at Lahore airport.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has appealed to local leaders and parliamentarians of PML-N to play their role in bringing out masses from difficulties being faced by them due to the closure of roads by PTI workers.
In a statement, he said PTI workers are involved in closing roads under police protection and government protocol, adversely affecting the general public.
He said this situation is disturbing people’s businesses, their participation in matters relating to joy and mourning, as well as educational activities. He said patients are facing hardships in reaching hospitals.
Sanaullah said a handful of PTI workers have been disturbing people for the last four days at the behest of the police. He said people’s patience is running out due to the prevailing situation. –Agencies
