In a speech on the floor of the Lower House of Parliament, Sharif lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and its chief Imran for violent acts, saying: “I want to clarify to the leader of this group (PTI), your dictation won’t work. This House and the coalition government will decide when to hold elections in the country.”
Following a busy day of political drama and violence across Pakistan, PTI chairman Imran, after announcing a deadline, left for his palatial farm house in Bani Gala, Islamabad, leaving behind scores of his supporters wondering what actually had happened that changed the entire political scene. Thousands of PTI workers had arrived with preparations for a prolonged sit-in as they were told by their leaders. “I was surprised when Khan announced to end the march,” said Adam Shuja, a PTI supporter.
Till late on Wednesday night, Islamabad’s high security red zone resembled a war zone with PTI supporters attempting to counter teargas shelling and crackdown of law enforcers with stones and sticks, and setting metro bus stations, trees and green belts on fire.
Imran, however, could not reach Islamabad’s red zone and delivered his speech to his supporters at the city’s Jinnah Avenue on Thursday morning. “I have reached Islamabad after 30 hours of travelling from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government tried every method to crush our Azadi (freedom) March. They used teargas on peaceful protesters, our homes were raided and our privacy was violated. However, I have seen the nation free itself of the fear of slavery,” he said.
Khan claimed three PTI workers had lost their lives in Karachi, while two workers were thrown off Ravi Bridge in Lahore and thousands others were arrested.
“My message for the imported government is to dissolve assemblies and announce elections, otherwise I will come back again to Islamabad after six days,” he said, indicating an end to the party’s much-hyped ‘Azadi March’.
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