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(MANEND NEWS): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Asad Umar announced that Imran Khan would not let ‘anything bulletproof’ separate him and the people as he is a kaptaan (captain) who ‘loved his people’, and did not want to be away from them.
The remark comes after leaders from the incumbent government advised the former premier to erect a bulletproof shield on his container as a safety measure following the alleged assassination attempt against him.
During the party’s Haqeeqi Azadi march Asad, in a message to the chief justice of Pakistan, declared that “Toba, Chinot, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sindh, Punjab” all stood in support of Imran Khan, and that the PTI supporters would not back down, or bend before anyone.
“What this nation and history decide about you, is up to you now,” he added.
Quoting Imran, Asad stated that the PTI chief was standing despite being shot and questioned if the nation was ready to stand with him.
He furthered that he would converse with Imran in the evening who “will be happiest to hear that the women, sisters and daughters of Toba” joined in the march.
The convoy, led by Asad Umar and other party leaders, passed through the Gojra tehsil where he was welcomed outside Hamza Usman’s residence.
He thanked the local people in a short speech and then the procession began to move towards its destination
Later, Asad Umar and PTI leader Shahbaz Gill reached Kalma Chowk in Toba Tek Singh.
Imran to address Gujrat via video link
PTI Chairperson Imran Khan will address the participants of the long march in Gujrat via video-link on Friday.
PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan made the announcement through his official Twitter handle, adding that a large number of people were eager to welcome their kaptaan.
“The solution to all of the country’s problems lies in the decision-making power of the people,” he said.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that screens would be put up in Gujrat for Imran to address the people and party workers.
He detailed that the march would move towards Gujrat after Zuhr prayers, and that the procession would pause at Rahmat Elahi Chowk and then finally reach the GTS Chowk where Imran Khan will address the crowds.
Addressing a presser prior to the march, Qureshi stated that the first information report (FIR) lodged against the Wazirabad shooting had “no value” because the three high-profile leaders inculpated by Imran were not named in the FIR. He said that the plaintiff should have been prioritised but alleged that the police seemed helpless. The PTI leader remarked that the incident showed “some people are above the law”.
He said that adherence to the law was vital for Pakistan’s progress.
Thursday’s procession
Yesterday, Imran told supporters via video-link they should keep up ‘Azadi March’, a week after he suffered wounds in a gun attack, and he dismissed a police report that a lone shooter tried to kill him.
The former prime minister was wounded last Thursday in the shooting at a rally in Wazirabad, part of a rolling march that he has led to press for a general election since he was ousted in a parliament vote in April.
Imran addressed a few hundred workers who relaunched the march in Wazirabad. “Our march wouldn’t stop,” Imran said, adding the protest will instead gather strength as it closes in on the federal capital.
The PTI chairman has been leading public rallies to demand snap polls since his ouster by a joint opposition. He said nothing could deter him from going ahead as long as the snap polls were not called, adding that he would join the protest march in Rawalpindi in some days. “I will not back off as long as I’m alive,” he said.