PTI informally kicks off protest drive with its caravan reaching Lahore

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) informally launched its much-touted protest movement on Saturday by leading a caravan to Lahore, featuring key leaders and lawmakers.

A senior party leader from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), when contacted on telephone, told The News that the move was primarily aimed at assessing preparedness of the party at grass-root level and assign tasks to the party office-bearers and lawmakers in connection with the proposed movement.

He maintained that the people of Punjab would have to rise to the occasion and play their ‘overdue’ part in the drive for rule of law, upholding of the Constitution and democracy.

Immediately after Ashura, Aleema Khan, a sister of PTI founder chairman and ex-premier Imran Khan, announced that her brother had given a formal go-ahead to the movement, which would have its peak on August 5 to coincide with completion of his two years in confinement.

She also revealed that the party founder’s sons, Kasim and Suleman, will also be a part of the proposed movement, triggering a mixed reaction from the ruling coalition.

When approached, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed to this correspondent that the party leadership’s activity was part of the movement, which was planned much before the announcement made by Khan Sahib (Imran Khan) in this context.

He was asked whether the PTI’s move to visit Lahore at this juncture was part of the proposed country-wide drive. “In today’s parliamentary party meeting in Lahore, the contours of much-awaited line of action will be discussed and be shared with all on Sunday at 11am,” he explained.

“No way, there are no chances of arrests. This is not going to happen,” clarified PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, while talking to the media outside the KP House here, where a meeting was held with regard to the caravan.

Gohar said that only parliamentarians are going to Lahore and that they are in touch with the people of Punjab.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also maintained that the caravan was leaving for Lahore only for talks, as there would be a meeting on Saturday and Sunday, after which they will return. He explained that there will be a discussion on the economic and political situation of the country. “Article 19 guarantees our fundamental right, this right has been taken away from us,” he argued.

The Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, expression to every citizen. However, this right is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law, particularly in the interest of Islam, national security, public order, and morality.

Salman Akram said it was their desire is to sit with people, listen to their problems. He also stated that the return of the sons of the PTI founder was their fundamental right; they would come to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, in a statement, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said the convoy was to express solidarity with the representatives expelled from the Punjab Assembly, and was only carrying a message of peace, love, brotherhood and tolerance.

He made it clear that anyone who thinks that there is a protest should know that this is just an expression of solidarity. “Our aim is not chaos but the protection of democratic values,” he added. Chief Whip Aamir Dogar said the party leadership would stay in Lahore at night. He added that accommodation arrangements have been made for the KP party leaders.