ISLAMABAD , May 6, 2023: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged people of come out of their homes today (Saturday) to join rallies being held so show solidarity with Constitution of chief justice of Pakistan.
In a Twitter message, the former prime minister wrote: “I am urging people to come out between 5.30 pm & 6.30 pm today to show their solidarity with our Constitution and the CJP”.
He said it was a high time to fight for “our country, to demand our rights, and to stand up for the Constitution”. He asserted that a country where there was no rule of law has no future.
The rallies come amid the ongoing tussle between the judiciary and ruling coalition on holding of snap elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Supreme Court has ordered holding of polls in Punjab on May 14 with repeatedly maintaining that its order will remain unchanged, however, the government is opposing it by not releasing funds and providing security to the Election Commission of Pakistan as it seeks simultaneous polls across the country.
The PTI will holding rallies in Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi to send a message to the PDM government that people will not tolerate the defiance of the court orders and the constitution.
Imran Khan, who was ousted from the PM’s office in April last, will lead the rally in Lahore. It will start from his Zaman Parks residence and culminate at Lakshmi Chowk after passing through several areas.
Addressing a speech via video link on Friday, the deposed premier slammed the PDM, saying, “The PTI will fight with PDM till the last ball. The government has no plan in a bid to take the country’s economy in the right direction.”
He urged the public to take to the streets in solidarity with the Chief Justice, adding that it was a decisive time for everyone to stand by the Supreme Court. Mr Khan said that he himself will lead the rally in Lahore.
Mr Khan continued to lash out at political opponents and accused the incumbent government of resorting to unconstitutional tactics. He further said, “These people used to taunt me by asking to dissolve the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies for the sake of elections.”
“Our fundamental rights have been violated. We will sacrifice everything for the sake of the country. We are not going to run away from the country. We have been fighting the mafia. Excuses are being made under the umbrella of agreement with the (IMF),” Mr Khan maintained.
Referring to the rate of inflation during his tenure, Mr Khan said, “During our tenure, the inflation rate was 12.5 percent, which has now risen to 36.5 percent.
He lamented, “I have repeatedly said that the current rulers are incompetent in controlling the situation in the country. The country witnessed a decline in exports within a year. At the time of the end of our government, the country was witnessing a record increase in foreign exchange reserves”.
Speaking about the elections, Mr Khan said, “I will agree with the government to hold simultaneous elections, if the government manages to present its economic plan till October”.
Mr Khan added, “The current rulers are resorted to the tactics of ending the politics of the PTI at any cost. The government will only hold elections when they feel the PTI has been weakened”.
He recalled that as per the Supreme Court’s decision, the Punjab Assembly elections should be held on May 14. Mr Khan went on to say that the government was not ready to accept the Supreme Court’s decision in this regard.
“There is no protection of the basic human rights, when the government refuses to obey the court’s decision,” he added.