Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced Wednesday that his party’s sit-in will continue during Muharram while Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri –who had earlier called off his party’s sit-in – expressed hope that PAT’s post-sit-in strategy will compel the government to hold mid-term polls.
Addressing supporters on Wednesday, Khan said that PTI’s sit-in would continue in Muharram but no songs would be played. “I will not leave until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns,” said Khan.
Khan congratulated and expressed his gratitude to the PAT chief for raising awareness among the people and for guiding and supporting PTI when the government had launched crackdown against PAT and PTI supporters in Islamabad on August 31.
Qadri and Khan had arrived in Islamabad in mid-August with thousands of supporters in a bid to force PM Sharif to step down from office, alleging that Sharif had come to power through electoral rigging. However, the PAT chairman called off his party’s sit-in on the 67th day, saying it was time to hold countrywide demonstrations.
QADRI EYES ANTI-GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE:
On Wednesday, the PAT chief quashed rumours that he called off the sit-in after a deal with the government and told reporters that PAT might form a grand alliance ahead of the next general elections while expressing hope that a situation would develop leading to mid-term elections.
“I have called a meeting on October 25 in Lahore to discuss the possible measures after our sit-in. The first meeting in this regard was held on October 20,” he said.
“We are reviewing different options and planning for an alliance before Senate elections,” he said, adding that PAT would try to ensure that electoral reforms were in force before the next elections.
Announcing that PAT would continue the ‘Inqilab’ sit-ins and protests, with a break during Muharram, Qadri said that the large number of participants in PAT’s rallies in Lahore and Faisalabad implied that the sit-ins had succeeded in their objectives.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for a PAT’s rally in Abbottabad’s College Ground. PAT’s local leaders assert that Qadri’s speech in the rally would be a milestone for the establishment of Hazara province.
Meanwhile, Qadri’s supporters Wednesday packed up from outside the Parliament House in Islamabad after the PAT sit-in was called off.
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