Imran warns of strong reaction if Raiwind march hindered

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said the Constitution does not bar anyone from holding a peaceful protest and any hurdle in the way of Raiwind march will not be tolerated.

He said if arrests were made, he would himself go to police stations to get the workers released. Talking to the media at the airport and later addressing a gathering of columnists, senior journalists and TV anchors, Imran said Nawaz Sharif had been exposed over the Panama Leaks and the PTI would not let this issue die. He said his party would look for other options if the Raiwind march didn’t yield the desired results. It would continue to expose the wrongdoings of the government, he added.

Imran said the country had already suffered a lot at the hands of the corrupt elements and it was time the nation rises against the rulers as Panama Leaks were related to the entire nation.

The PTI chairman said the PM was inaugurating the already inaugurated projects and claimed that country was making progress under his rule. He said the government had spent billions of rupees on its publicity campaign.

He said the PM had destroyed institutions; farmers were suffering and youth were without jobs. He said the entire nation was united over Panama leaks and wanted to purge the country of menace of corruption. If the PTI workers were arrested, he would himself lodge protest outside the police stations.

About Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri’s decision to dissociate himself from the PTI long march, Imran said he didn’t know what was the reason for that decision. During his visit to a local hotel, the PTI chairman got stuck in the lift due to power failure, but its door was opened manually and he came out of it.

 Online adds: Earlier, talking to the media at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad, Imran Khan said the government would not be able to face reaction if it tried to impede Raiwind march.

“All the parties are united on Panama leaks. If hindrances are created on the way to Raiwind march, then the government will not be able to face its reaction,” he said. “Pakistan’s Constitution gives the right to stage peaceful protest. We will stage our every protest within the parameters of Constitution,” he added.

“The more the corruption the more the poverty. Our labourer and farmer are being crushed,” he added. The PTI chief said he respected Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin. However, he has every right to form his new party, he added.

On the other hand, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah announced providing foolproof security to Raiwind march, saying whosoever wanted to go to Raiwind from all-over Punjab would be taken there. “We are ready to provide fare and conveyance if someone has no fare,” he added. Imran Khan had alone moved and he would be left alone, he remarked. He said that no PML-N worker should come on the way to Raiwind march.