-Imran leading main rally that kicked off from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk
-Says March not for politics or personal interest
-Reiterates commitment to remain peaceful, uphold constitution, law
-Marchers expected to enter Islamabad on 4 November
-Islamabad Police deploy over 13,000 officers
-TV channels ordered to stop live telecast
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Long March has kicked off under the leadership of Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk on Friday.
Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Liberty Chowk from his residence Zaman Park to lead the party’s Azadi Long March.
The PTI chief is marching toward Islamabad to force the incumbent government to announce a date for early elections.
Imran Khan along with senior party leaders, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Ali Zaidi, Shafqat Mahmood, Faisal Javed Khan, Sheikh Rasheed, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, Musarat Cheema and other leaders can be seen on the container.
Addressing the participants before heading towards Islamabad, former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan said the time has come to start the journey for haqiqi azadi (Real Freedom).
The motive of the march is not personal or political but wants to free the nation from slavery, the former premier maintained.
He said that decisions regarding Pakistan should be taken here not in Washington. No one should direct Pakistan to join others’ wars.
Pakistan was not made for a “small group of occupiers” to do as it deemed fit and reiterated the need for the supremacy of law in the country, Imran Khan said, regretting the law was different for the powerful and helpless in the country.
Recounting what the PTI has described as the ill-treatment of politicians and journalists, Imran also said that slain journalist Arshad Sharif knew there were threats to his life even when he was abroad. “Shireen Mazari has the message.”
The people of the country are facing the worst inflation because thieves are ruling the country. Imran Khan said the demand for fair and transparent elections in the country is not an unconditional demand.
A large number of people have already reached Lahore’s famous chowk to participate in the long march against the incumbent government.
On Sunday, the participants of the long march will reach Gujrat where Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi will welcome the marchers. The PTI marchers will stay at Sarai Alamgir between Gujrat and Jhelum.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed television channels not to live telecast programmes and other content, particularly while covering PTI leaders’ speeches and the long march.
In a notification dated October 28, the regulator reminded television channels that instructions to stop the live telecast of programmes were issued earlier as well, but compliance remained poor.
The Pemra said while monitoring Friday’s transmission, it was observed during a speech “statements against state institutions were aired live” in violation of the code of conduct and court orders.
It directed television channels to refrain from “airing content that [is] tantamount to malign/ disgrace state institutions (advertently or inadvertently) and to sensitise their editorial boards, directors (new and programming), bureaus and field reporters” to comply with these directives.
Legal action, leading to suspensions and revocation of licences, would be initiated in case of non-compliance, Pemra warned.
Islamabad Police have issued instructions to its officers pertaining to the code of conduct during PTI Long March expected to reach the federal capital on November 4.
According to the instructions, over 13,000 officers deployed at the frontline will be wearing anti-riot gear whereas those without proper gear will be posted outside the reach of the protesters. Similarly, the police personnel deployed to counter the long march will not be armed with weapons and would only be allowed to carry batons.
They have been told to avoid the upper parts of the body when hitting protesters in case of baton charge and use their shields effectively in case of stone-pelting by the protesters.
According to the instructions, the SSP Headquarters will responsible to ensure the supply of anti-riot gears and logistic support to force deployed to control the law and order situation in light of the long march.
The Islamabad Administration on Friday rejected Pakistan Tehreek Insaf’s no-objection certificate of the party to hold its gathering in the federal capital.
The district administration, in a letter asked PTI to satisfy the administration in writing, adding that the party had violated the NOC that was provided to it on May 25.
Ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march towards Islamabad, the Interior Ministry has reiterated that no political party would be allowed to destablise state ‘through forceful measures’.
According to details, the interior ministry penned down a letter to all the provincial governments and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) governments.
“It is imperative that federal and provincial governments should act in unison and follow the constitutional provisions to maintain law and order in the country,” the ministry said in the notification.
“The importance of adhering to the Constitution and laws of the land by all relevant including the federal/provincial/special area governments can hardly be over-emphasised as it is an obligation for all governments under the constitutional and legal framework of the country,” the letter stated. –Agencies
