The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) on Sunday began their formal protest against the government across the country, demanding Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani resign from his office after being convicted by the Supreme Court.
The PML-N staged protest rallies in Gujranwala and Karachi, demanding an immediate resignation of Gilani.
However, internal scuffles, mismanagement and lack of zeal turned the rallies chaotic.
The PML-N’s rally at the Karachi Press Club was marred by mismanagement, forcing media to boycott the rally after being manhandled by unruly workers.
In Gujranwala, the PML-N had already announced the launch of its protest movement against Gilani’s refusal to step down after his conviction by the Supreme Court in the contempt case.
The organizers had made arrangements for around 8,000 to 10,000 people, but protestors turned frenzied as they burnt effigies.
Members of the PML-N youth wing also scuffled with the rally organisers when they tried to get on the stage.
Addressing the Gujranwala rally, PML-N leader Khwaja Saad Rafique said the convicted prime minister should resign, else the entire Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government would have to face public justice.
The PML-N workers and parliamentarians staged a huge protest at Rail Bazaar and rallied across Gujranwala.
Saad said Gilani was a convict and had no moral ground to govern the country.
He said that before the “long march”, the PM would have to do a “quick march” towards the pavilion.
“We are pro-democracy and have given them time to mend their selves, but instead of doing something for the betterment of the masses they have exploited the whole nation. Now the Supreme Court has declared him (Gilani) a convict and he should resign otherwise a long march will decide his fate and people will elect honest people to rule the land of pure,” Saad said.
He said the so-called prime minister was involved in various corruption scandals and had played with the future of the people through nepotism.
Zaeem Qadri said the prime minister had put the country on the track of destruction.
He said the PM had looted the public exchequer and the common man was even worse than before.
Imran: Meanwhile in Islamabad, PTI Chairman Imran Khan called upon PML-N President Nawaz Sharif to resign from the assemblies if his party was serious about “disastrous policies” of the government.
“Mian Sahab prove you are a real tiger by coming out of the assemblies,” Imran demanded while addressing a rally staged outside Parliament House to express solidarity with the judiciary. Imran called Nawaz a “paper tiger” and challenged him to hold public meetings in Quetta and Karachi, where the PTI had organized massive gatherings.
“If Mian Sahab holds public meetings in Quetta and Karachi, he would be the leader of entire Pakistan, otherwise he would be the leader of Punjab only,” he said.
The PTI chief also took to task President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani and slammed the resolution passed in favour of the latter by parliament a few days ago.
“I don’t accept this resolution and it has no worth. If the parliamentary resolutions had any worth, the drone strikes against Pakistan would have been stopped,” Imran said.
He said Gilani should be ashamed of getting such resolutions passed from parliament against the judgment of the Supreme Court.
Imran held President Asif Zardari responsible for the predator strikes on Pakistani territory by the US.
He asked Gilani why was he not writing to the Swiss authorities, saying the PM had been in fact protecting a thief and dacoit of national exchequer by defying court orders.
Imran also announced to approach all parties included in the former All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM) that boycotted the 2008 general election to take them on board against the designs of the rulers.
He also announced to hold a massive public gathering in Liaqat Bagh Rawalpindi later this month and declared that PTI would bring the youth across the country to Islamabad if the rulers remained bent upon their anti-judiciary plans.
very much pro PPP rally of Imran. Imran is opposition to Nawaz only and is pro Government.
Obviously intelligence is not your greatest suit. How can asking for Gilani to resign be a pro PPP rally?
Hahahhaaha… I can only laugh at you….
protecting these assemblies means protecting Zardari and Gilani…
come on dude… admit it..
It was a good show by PTI keeping in view the fact that it was done in Islamabad and every one know about the people of Islamabad . . . I am from ISB and i was surprised by the amount of people . . .
InshaAllah that is a sign of us waking up against the most corrupt & illiterate govt. we have ever had to suffer
@Ali
O Bhai Sahab! Listen to Imran Khan's speech once more.He criticised Gilani and Zardari more than Nawaz Sharif.If you think that he should criticise PPP only, then it is your mistake.It is his compulsion to criticise both PPP and PMLN at the same time.
Good crowd and show, but the stand of PTI on PM conviction is almost same as that of their allies. What is this and WHY?.–Hope not another friendly B team promised some deal in next election and Multan By Elections was a reflection where Javed Hashmi openly supported PPP.
People talking here about Imran being pro PPP are obviously in oblivion. I was there at Islamabad rally yesterday – he spoke more against Zardari and Gillani (right in front of their palaces) than PML-N. And Javed Hashmi spoke so forcefully against PPP you cant imagine. This is not ZAB's PPP – this is Zardari's corrupt Mafia! Read the entire PTI manifesto on their website. This is one man who has not given up ever on anything – whether cricket, hospitals, knowledge universities and politics. He doesn't understand or accept the word "defeat". Cheers
POINT SCORING
And forgot to add – you PML-N bought supporters – why don't you ask them how much money Nawaz got from general zia who made him cm at age 35? Ask the dengue brothers where they got so much money to build palaces in saudi, raiwind and model town alone. Why don't you ask them what they have done sitting twice in gov't and 4 and half years in punjab assembly where the smaller dengue brother shahbaz has not attended a single punjab assembly session this year cause he's drunk half the time or with one of his mistresses or looking for a sixth wife. get a life..
I think its now time for change, These rallies wont work any more.
Imran Khan is the future of Pakistan
Isn't it a surprise that on blogs and forums like these where the comments are mostly made by educated people, the number of paid PML-N nokers is negligible? That makes me wonder what kind of sick people they hire based on the cheap slogans and picture that they fabricate using photoshop? if they are like this, imagine how their leader is going to be.
Your comments reflect that you are paid guy. Decency is the best norm. Even respect your opponents.
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