to stop the government from making such a blunder,” he said.
He said he had been demanding throughout the year to open investigation in four constituencies and came to the streets when got no justice and after that it was PTI democratic right to protest. ”I called ‘Oay Nawaz Sharif, Oay Nawaz Sharif” when police tortured peaceful demonstrators, killed four and injured hundreds of them. He said PTI sit-in and the struggle was meant for fair and transparent elections and for the sake of future of democracy in the country. “We had to retreat at many stages during that struggle. We kept quiet when Nawaz Sharif did not resign. He would not have kept his words even if we had ended our sit-in. It is on record that Nawaz Sharif has never been man of words. He would not have done what he said even if the Army chief was a mediator,” he said.
Imran said PTI would not bother at defeat in Karachi election. It would be a lesson and then they would mend their faults and weaknesses. “We want to go to the elections without fear.” He said and added that it was their right to run the election campaign. The MQM had made a ‘no go area’ there. He had come to Karachi to assure PTI candidate Imran Ismail and the PTI workers that he stood with them. He would go to the areas where they felt there was danger for them. Perhaps Reham Khan would also accompany him during his visits to the election areas, Imran Khan said.
He said the time had come for a change. The businessmen would continue to leave Karachi and the country until the atmosphere of fear was not gone.
He said the Election Commission secretary said in 2013 that the election in Karachi was not fair and transparent, still the PTI won 0.8 million votes. “This time we are well prepared and contesting polls with full force,” Imran Khan said and added that he did not want an air of fear and frustration. He pointed out that Karachi had been divided into communities so that votes might be won on the basis of such hatred and division.
He said the MQM voters thought that it was the party of Mohajirs and considered they were being criticised when the MQM was being criticised. “I wish to unite the people of Karachi,” he said.
“It is very unfortunate that politics of ethnicity is being promoted in Karachi. The quota system in employment has given rise to feeling of deprivation among Urdu speaking people. A certain mafia has been reaping benefits out of this feeling of deprivation. Other parties have followed the same pattern and formed militant wings. Karachi would not move forward in such a situation,” he said. Imran Khan said he had sought the support of Jamaat-e-Islam in the election. He said the PTI candidate Imran Ismail had a better chance to win the election.