Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan announced that his party lawmakers have quit the National Assembly and provincial assemblies in Punjab and Sindh, but kept the decision of winding up his party's provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pending until consultations with its coalition partners. He also announced that he would march to capital's high security 'Red Zone' on Tuesday (today).
-- PTI renounces parliamentary seats, announces its workers led by Imran will enter Red Zone today
-- Qadri decides to turn his sit-in into 'people's parliament'
-- Government groping for a win-win solution
"I will be in the forefront at 6pm tomorrow (Tuesday) to storm Red Zone and you will follow me so that the police will not open fire on you. Promise me you will remain peaceful because I am worried that the police are ours and you are also mine, [and] I do not want any clash with police. That's why I have decided I will lead the march to the Red Zone," Imran told his charged party workers on the fifth day of his anti-government sit-in on Kashmir Highway.
The PTI has 34 seats in the National Assembly, 46 seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 29 in Punjab and 3 in Sindh provincial assemblies. The PTI was the largest opposition political party in Punjab provincial assembly, the stronghold of the Sharifs. Defending his decision to launch a civil disobedience movement, Imran said it is the 'best weapon' to attain 'Azadi' (independence) in a peaceful manner. "In case Nawaz Sharif gets scared and takes a flight to Raiwind (Lahore) we will still be able to bring him to his knees through civil disobedience, we will still be able to topple his government," he contended.
He said he and people like him remained slaves to the rulers like Nawaz Sharif but he would never want the future generations to be blighted by slavery. "What is the qualification and merit on the basis of which Nawaz Sharif has placed his daughter Maryam Nawaz on Rs 100 billion funds. Is there any justification that one brother is the prime minister and the other is heading the biggest province? What kind of democracy it is that is not based on merit; this is a fake democracy," he asked.
The PTI chief warned the international lending agencies, especially the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), against giving a single penny to what he called the 'illegitimate government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif' or else his party's future government would not repay loans. Addressing the Islamabad Police, PTI chief said they will have to decide whether they will fire at Imran Khan or not. "I know the Pakistani police will not shoot at Imran Khan," he said. To the "Gullu Butts," he said if they raise arms against workers, they will have no place to hide. The world will witness the power of the Pakistani nation tomorrow," he added.
"Promise me that not a single pot will be broken and you will remain steadfastly peaceful," he sought a pledge from the participants of his party's sit-in, by asking them to raise their hands. He said a civil disobedience movement was the best way to get freedom from oppressors, adding "freedom can not be offered and you have to snatch it". He urged: "Oh the people of Pakistan, come and join us as we are going to make a new Pakistan. Write your name in the history by taking part in this historic march or you will repent later," he maintained.
He called upon people to rush to Islamabad from each and every nook and corner of the country, saying such great opportunities seldom come in nation's history. About the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), he said: "I would like to tell my brethren from Fata to reach here tomorrow and the PTI will give them their due rights for which they have been suffering since long".
In an emotional tone, Imran drew the attention of Pashtuns living in Khyber, and said: "Oh my Pashtun tigers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, you have to be here with me tomorrow evening and together we will drag this fake prime minister out". He invited men, women, children, lawyers, labourers, farmers, artists, students and doctors from across the country to join tomorrow's peaceful protest demonstration against the Sharif regime. He said former cricket star Javed Miandad telephoned him and assured his full support. Addressing Shahid Afridi, he said if he did not join PTI, he had no right to call himself a Pashtun.
"Oh Shehazad Roy (a famous singer), where have you been lost, come and play your part in this historic movement. I know Shehzad's parents have stopped him not to go after Imran as he is doing dangerous things," he said in a sarcastic tone. Imran said that he would make Pakistan Cricket team world's champion, as they are fed up of people like Najam Sethi, "for his involvement in 35 punctures".
Jamshed Dasti, an independent MNA from Muzaffargarh, also announced his resignation amid clapping by PTI supporters. Later, addressing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he warned that "your rigged government and fake premiership is in great danger. You better call it a day as soon as possible as the situation is gathering heat with each passing moment and you will not be able to control it," he maintained.
Dr Qadri: Moments after the 48-hour crucial deadline to government was over on Monday night, Dr Tahirul Qadri of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) announced that a 'people's parliament' will sit on Tuesday evening at Aabpara Chowk that will decide 'revolution march's' future line of action.
Qadri had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to immediately implement his 10-point charter of demands, said that the leadership of like-minded political and religious parties will be no more in a position to take any decision as it will be the people who will decide what to do next with corrupt regime of Nawaz Sharif. Like chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI, PAT), Dr Qadri also made a passionate appeal to the nation to march towards federal capital and witness the dawn of a 'green revolution'.
Qadri did not elaborate his next move but the timings (5pm) set by the cleric for the proceedings of his 'masses' parliament' under an open sky clearly indicate that both the anti-government marchers (PTI and PAT) will advance hand in hand towards 'Red Zone'. He said the sole purpose of his struggle for bringing a revolution against the "corrupt, illegitimate and ruthless" government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to ensure the rights to the suppressed, oppressed and the downtrodden.
"I could have enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle anywhere in the world but whatever I am doing, I am doing for the sake of your bright and dignified future. My struggle is for the poorest of the poor," he maintained. He continued that it is Pakistan and not Canada which has given him fame, education and respect. "We will not move from here till our demands are fulfilled, he said while reiterating his party's demand of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif's resignations.
He said that there exists no democracy, rule of law or constitution in the country. He said that Model Town incident took place on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and no FIR had not been registered so far despite court's orders. "Is this what you call rule of law, democracy," he questioned.
He strongly criticised the government for rampant corruption, inability to stabilise the fragile economy, deteriorating law and order and its highhandedness to suppress his party's peaceful march. He strongly condemned the arrests of PAT, Sunni Etihad Tehreek and Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) workers, saying the days of the government are numbered.
He said the Prime Minister along with his interior minister would be responsible if his supporters are provoked in reaction to whatever the government is doing to exhaust peaceful protesters. "This attitude of the government is undemocratic and unacceptable," he lamented. Qadri also criticised the PPP-led provincial government of Sindh for its failure to address the problems of the people, particularly attacks on minorities.