Imran adamant on protest…with or without you!

• PTI chairman says protest is their constitutional, democratic right; no one can stop them from protesting in Islamabad 
• Gillani endorses Imran Khan’s allegations while Shah distances PPP from May 11 protest
• Sanaullah predicts failure for Imran-Qadri protest as Sherpao finds Imran ‘politically ignorant’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday said that launching protest demonstrations was his party’s constitutional and democratic right and no one could stop them, as political circles have shown mixed reaction to the PTI’s protest call on May 11 to mark the ‘first anniversary of election rigging’.

In an interview, the PTI chairman said they wanted to put democracy back on track and strengthen it by organising a protest rally in Islamabad on May 11.

He alleged that the government was shy of holding an enquiry into election rigging, adding that after having failed to get justice from the Election Commission of Pakistan and other institutions, they were left with no option but to come on the roads.

He said the PTI has always talked of strengthening democracy and state institutions and the May 11 protest was aimed at exposing those who usurped the people’s mandate through rigging.

To a question, Imran Khan said biggest danger to the government was its own policies. He was of the view that despite one year in office, the government could not resolve a single issue.

GILLANI ENDORSES IMRAN’S CLAIM:

Former prime minister of the Pakistan People’s Party government, Yousaf Raza Gilani said he had taken Imran Khan into confidence about plotters of rigging in the May 11 general elections, a private news channel reported on Sunday.

Gilani said institutions should work within their domain.

Earlier on Friday, Imran Khan had said Jang and Geo group was involved in rigging the May 11 elections. The PTI chief had also announced to boycott Geo-Jang group unless the media organisation “apologised” for its role in the elections.

PPP NOT BE A PART OF PTI’S PROTEST:

Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Khurshid Shah said that his party would not participate in the PTI protest against the Nawaz-led government.

Talking to reporters in Sukkur, Shah said the PPP leadership has not been contacted by PTI regarding its announcement of protest demonstration, adding that Imran Khan’s agenda was different from PPP.

Another PPP leader, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira urged the PTI leadership not to resort to politics of agitation.

In a statement, the PPP Punjab secretary general said it was not the right time as the country was embroiled in challenges. He said that although the PPP had reservations about the authenticity of the elections but they decided to support the government in the larger interest of the country.

He said that the KP was the worst-hit province by extremism and terrorism and the resultant destabilisation would only benefit the terrorists. He said that the PTI had long political career and should assist the government in strengthening of democratic institutions.

‘PTI DOES NOT NEED SHAH’S ADVICE’:

PTI Information Secretary Shireen Mazari asked Khurshid Shah not to give recommendations to the PTI about democracy.

Responding to Shah’s statements, she said the PTI would not do anything to derail the democratic process in the country.

‘FOILING IMRAN, QADRI CONSPIRACY’:

In the meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that “Dhandli Khan” (Rigging Khan) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Prof Dr Tahirul Qadri would not succeed in any conspiracy against democracy.

Talking to reporters, Sanaullah said that mission of both Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri was nothing but to create chaos and lawlessness. He questioned the PTI chairman as to what he has done for the betterment of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the PTI has no future in politics and would not be able to get its candidates elected in the local government elections. He made it clear that no one would be allowed to violate the constitution and law under the pretext of protest on May 11. He, however, said that there would be no hurdle from the government in the peaceful protest.

The minister said that politically-mature people did not borrow the slogan of change and the PTI faced defeat in general elections. He said instead of learning any lesson from the defeat, the PTI chief was still talking of protests against alleged rigging. He reposed his confidence in the people that they would reject Imran’s agenda on May 11 as they did in the general elections.

‘IMRAN POLITICALLY IGNORANT’:

Furthermore, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said PTI Chairman Imran Khan was a politically ignorant man.

Talking to a private TV channel, Sherpao said the PTI chairman was crying foul in order to hide his failure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the PTI chairman’s rigging allegations after one year were illogical.