Former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced Sunday that his party's long march will resume on Tuesday (November 8) from the "same place where he was shot at in Wazirabad," Aaj News reported.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the former premier said Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the party's vice-chairman, will lead the rally from Wazirabad, while he will join it in Rawalpindi and lead from there.
"The march will reach Rawalpindi in the next 10 to 14 days," he said. "I will be in Rawalpindi to lead the people."
Imran reiterated that he holds responsible "three men for the attack" on his long march container. The PTI chairman said that he has every right to have them nominated in the FIR.
“I fully believe that these three have done this (attack) through a conspiracy. It’s my right [to register case]. I’m the leader of the biggest political party and ex-PM and if I can’t get his name in the FIR then I ask what [rights can be expected] for the nation and for the common man?”
Imran welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's decision to request Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to form a full court commission to investigate his allegations over the attack on his container during the long march.
Will give another call for long march once I recover, says Imran Khan in first address after attack
However, he said that a "free and fair probe cannot take place as those he holds responsible control all the agencies."
“How can we have an impartial and fair investigation? It cant happen. That’s why I asked them to resign so the investigation can be fair.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday requested Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to form a full court commission to investigate Imran Khan's allegations regarding his alleged involvement in the attack.
Islamabad police register FIRs against PTI leaders, protesters
“I do not have the right to remain [in my position] for even one second if I or others have any role in this conspiracy," the premier said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday.
“If there is even some minor proof against me, I will leave politics forever.” He said the formation of the full court commission was in the best interest of the country. "I will request this in writing," he added.
In his first address after the assassination attempt on Thursday, Imran had said he would give another call for a long march toward Islamabad as soon as he recovers from the bullet injuries.
“I would take to the streets as soon as I am discharged from the hospital, and lead the long march towards Islamabad,” Imran said as he spoke to the media from Shaukat Khanum hospital in Lahore, where he is currently under treatment.
He called on the public to come out in numbers to protest the assassination attempt, stressing that protests will continue until those accused of the assassination bid are sacked.
The PTI chief said he had learned about the looming danger beforehand. "I had already learned that there was a plan in place to kill me somewhere between Wazirabad and Gujrat," he said.