Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters from across the country have begun preparations for one-day rally on September 30, announced by the party chairman Imran Khan, a show of people power to pressurise the government to hold an impartial inquiry into the Panama Papers. Mehmood-ur-Rashid, PTI's Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly told Business Recorder that party leaders at provincial, district, tehsil and union council level have been given instructions to prepare for the march to Raiwind and ensure participation of large convoys from their respective areas.
He said that committees have been constituted that will ensure smooth arrangements for the participation of the people from all over the country who are expected to participate in the Raiwind march. He further claimed that party workers will come to Lahore in groups and their respective group leaders will be given the task to look after their team members.
Regarding accommodation and food arrangements for out of town rally participants, he said that most of the participants would be the youth and the party's experience is that the young can manage. "Our 126-day Islamabad sit-in is one such example where PTI workers from all over the country took part and did not face any problem of accommodation or food and Raiwind rally is just a one-day show, so I don't think the participants will have any problem", he added.
To a question about participation of other opposition political parties, he said that they have been extended invitations adding that it was the democratic right of every political party to take their own decision and "our job was to invite them". "We cannot force any party to become part of the PTI rally. We would welcome any opposition party which wants to become part of this campaign to force the government to probe the Panama papers as this could be a turning point in the country's history", he added.
To garner public support, he said that the party has appointed co-ordinators in 10 districts of central and northern Punjab while similar co-ordination committees have also been given the task across the country to ensure maximum participation in the rally. "The co-ordinators as well as the volunteers will send text messages and record calls in a bid to boost public attendance", he added. Senior PPP leader Latif Khosa said that his party would decide in the next two or three days whether to participate in the Raiwind rally adding that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would take the final decision.
"There is no second opinion that pressure must be built on the government to accept the demands of the opposition political parties with regard to investigating Panama Papers. We are taking stock of the situation and things will be clear within two to three days", he added. Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) of Tahir-ul-Qadri has also not yet announced its plan whether to attend the rally or not. Talking to Business Recorder, Ghulam Ali Khan, PAT's spokesman said that the PTI has neither extended any invitation nor the party has taken any decision so far.
However, he said that the central executive committee will take final decision if PTI approach the party to participate in the Raiwind rally, adding once the PTI formally invites us, the party senior leadership respond accordingly after consultation with party chief.
Comments
Comments are closed.