PTI’s ‘do-or-die’ protest call to pave way for crackdown: Rana Sana

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was “mistreating” his party workers and supporters by giving “do-or-die-call”.

“When they [PTI] speak about wearing shrouds, funeral prayers [...] they are giving a free hand to law enforcers to launch a crackdown against them,” he said while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.

Instead of threatening to march towards Islamabad and staging a sit-in there, the PMLN leader said, the PTI should ask to hold a “democratic and peaceful” protest or rally for the fulfilment of its demands.

In response to a question, Sanaullah said the “monopoly on violence” belongs to the state and not to any group or political party. “When someone threatens to march with shrouds tied, should they be welcomed?” “We [PML-N] never talked about sit-ins or staging violence in our protest,” he said, noting that the jailed PTI founder wanted the opposition to be eliminated through the establishment.

He claimed that Imran’s differences with former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa began when he demanded the elimination of the opposition. “When Bajwa did not cooperate, so he started calling him Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq,” he added. Sanaullah further said that Imran has no choice expect getting rid of “will-not-spare-anyone” policy. “His [PTI founder] stubbornness led himself and the country to trouble.”

The statement came as the PTI has announced giving a final protest call against the incumbent rulers, warning that the demonstration will not end the until the fulfilment of their demands which include the release of party founder Imran Khan and the “restoration of judicial independence”.

Last week, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur vowed to secure release of PTI founder Imran Khan, saying that they are even ready to “sacrifice their lives” for this purpose. “Even if our lives are lost, we will not rest until the release of PTI founder,” he roared at a public gathering organised by the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi.