Imran gives govt six days to announce date for new elections

ISLAMABAD: (HRNW) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan on Thursday gave the government six days to announce dates for elections in June as he called on the Supreme Court to grant justice over the violence perpetrated by the government on peaceful protesters who were part of his Azadi March.

“You have failed to run the government, you are not here to run the government but just to shutter the corruption cases against you,” he said while addressing on Thursday morning a public rally which he had led to Jinnah Avenue in Islamabad.

He gave the government a six day ultimatum to announce dates for fresh elections in June and dissolve assemblies or else he will return to the federal capital.

He further expressed confidence that this time there will be no blockages as there is now a Supreme Court order.

Imran said that the government used to threaten the public with fake cases, tear gas, baton charge, police brutality but the country had finally liberated itself of fear, he said, adding that a nation that is gripped by fear can be easily enslaved.

“For years we have been taught to live in fear that if the US did not give us money or aid, we would become bankrupt, or that no one can come into power in Pakistan until the US helps you,” he said.

He added that if we do not ask for money from other [countries] this country cannot run its affairs, but we have managed to overcome our fears and wrest back control and have liberated ourselves of our fears, he said.

Imran suggested that their march had united the nation across socio-economic divide, just like in the Independence movement for Pakistan.

“During the course of his journey, he said that he had seen all types of people come out in support including men and women from the villages, the young and the old, the youth, party workers, the elders, the English medium – whom the Urdu medium call ‘burgers’, they used to call your party ‘mummy-daddys’ – the way you have braved tear gas, there is no parable found for this,” he said.

On this journey, in Rawalpindi, tear gas, containers, all attempts were made to stop us and foil our march, but I want to give thanks today that the nation is willing to render any sacrifice to achieve its objectives, he said, while referring to the obstacles created by the government.