-Imran Khan halts Long March after accidental death of female Journalist
-I do not talk to ‘boot polishers’, Imran responds to PM’s claim on talks offer
-Fawad says 1.5m marchers to throng Capital
-Punjab CM confirms back door talks
-Red Zone’s expansion invites political friction, says Sh. Rasheed
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: PTI leader Ali Nawaz Awan asked the Islamabad administration to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a peaceful march and a sit-in in the federal capital.
Awan, in a letter, said that the PTI has responded to the administration seeking some information from the party on October 28. “The required information has been provided to the administration,” he added. He said that delay from the administration would fall under contempt of court.
Meanwhile, Sadaf Naeem, a journalist working for a private news channel, Sunday died after being crushed under PTI’s container while its Long March was headed toward Kamoke from GT Road Lahore.
Following the incident, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced halting the march for the day and said it will continue today (Monday). Speaking to the participants, Khan said that the march was supposed to move towards Kamoke, Gujranwala, Sunday. “However, due to the tragic incident, we will stop the march immediately.” Khan also sent his condolences to the family of the deceased and said that he would pray for the departed soul. After the incident, the march was stopped at GT Road and Imran Khan stepped out of the container.
According to rescue officials, the reporter slipped and fell under Khan’s container while she was climbing down the one she was standing on already.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to share his grief over the incident and extended his condolences to the journalist’s family.
“Deeply saddened by the death of reporter Sadaf Naeem after falling from a long march container. Cannot feel sad enough over this tragic incident. Heartfelt condolences to the family. Sadaf Naeem was a dynamic and hardworking reporter. We pray for patience for the family of the deceased,” he tweeted.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has also condemned the incident and prayed for Sadaf and her family. “I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of a precious life of a TV reporter Sadaf in the line of duty. My prayers for the bereaved family,” she wrote in her tweet, praying for the deceased to find eternal peace.
The President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi also extended his sympathies to the reporter’s family. Punjab’s Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has regretted the incident and sent his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Sadaf’s family.
PTI leaders and former ministers Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry expressed sorrow at the incident on Twitter. “I’ve seldom seen reporters as courageous and hard-working as Sadaf. A brave girl. Her eyes lit up after I introduced her to Imran Khan as the bravest and most hard-working reporter. Who knew that the meeting will be the last one. May God have mercy on her,” Fawad wrote in his tweet.
Addressing the participants of the long march in Sadhoki, Imran Khan said that the “establishment decided to support thieves” because of which the former has “lost the support of the nation.”
“The establishment of a country should stand with the nation only,” Khan said, adding that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was a “criminal of the nation”, while PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari was “the biggest disease of the country”.
He told his supporters that this was the time to change their destiny and side with the truth. “These tyrants make us worship the idol of fear,” Khan said.
In his address to the march participants at Murdike, Imran Khan, while responding to PM Shehbaz Sharif’s claim of seeking talks on the new army chief’s appointment, said that he does not talk to “boot polishers”.
“I spoke to those with whom Shehbaz hid in the trunk of the car to speak,” said Imran. He also questioned why he would send a message to the premier. The former prime minister also said that he was not raised in a “military dictator’s nursery”.
“I do not call Ayub Khan daddy like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. I am not like Nawaz Sharif who build General Jilani’s home and pressed General Ziaul Haq’s knees to become a minister,” said the PTI leader.
On the Indian media’s coverage of his attack on military officials, the PTI chief told the neighbouring country’s media that his party is standing with the army.
“I came to power with the people’s power not because of the establishment,” claimed Khan, adding that he only seeks rule of law in the country and the protection of the people’s rights.
Continuing his attack on the coalition government, the PTI chief said that former dictator Pervez Musharraf harmed the country by giving an NRO to these parties.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the party has resumed its third day of the long march, adding that there will be around 1 million to 1.5 million people by the time they reach Islamabad on Friday. Chaudhry said that the march started from Muridke and the residents of the area have starting joining the convoy.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi confirmed talks were taking place with the PTI but did not share with whom. In a reply to a question at a ceremony, CM Elahi said that back door dialogues take place in every long march.
Former interior minister sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has said that the government’s decision to expand the Red Zone of Islamabad was indicative of it inviting “political conflict”.
“The extension of the red zone to Zero Point is a denial of the Supreme Court’s order on long march. Institutions have also said that there is no restriction on a peaceful march,” tweeted the PTI ally. He added that the November 4 they will give a “historic welcome to the long march” from Rawat.
The former minister claimed that the government was running away from elections, adding that those in power should hold polls for the benefit of the country. Rasheed also claimed that the Federal Investigation Agency was pressurising the Punjab Police to arrest him. –Agencies
