*PTI chief Imran Khan refers to himself as ‘prime minister’, says he went to Bani Gala residence out of pity for his workers and is not ill as claimed by Shireen Mazari
Catching up with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers on Saturday afternoon after a long nap at his Bani Gala residence, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that he had left for his home because he felt “pity” for his tired workers.
Addressing the ‘Azadi’ marchers as they waited for their leader to disclose PTI’s plan of action to get “Naya Pakistan”, Khan vowed that “Prime Minister Imran Khan” shall never lie to the people and told his supporters to be prepared to celebrate “independence” later that night.
The PTI chief had repeatedly been saying that he would “eat and sleep” with his workers during the sit-in in Islamabad but he angered many in the crowd by saying, “I took pity on my workers which is why I left for my residence.”
He said he knew that his supporters were tired after the almost 40-hour-long journey to the Capital, while adding that remaining awake for 40 hours is no big deal for him and he was not tired after being up for 40 hours.
The PTI chief perhaps did not consider the statements made by his information secretary Shireen Mazari earlier in the day that Khan was suffering from a sore throat and high fever, and was resting at his residence.
PTI supporters from Punjab endured a 37-hour-long journey to reach Islamabad early on Saturday. PTI supporters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were already present in Islamabad since Thursday to welcome Khan, who had enticed them with claims of ‘Azadi’ on August 14.
However, Khan went to his Bani Gala residence after an address in the Capital early on Saturday, abandoning the PTI supporters as they endured heavy rain under the open skies.