Burn ‘em all: Sheikh Rashid gives mutiny call from PTI stage

• Imran Khan says PTI won’t remain peaceful after Nov 30 rally in Islamabad

Apparently frustrated by the fact that their three-month-long agitation against the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has failed in achieving their primary objective – the prime minister’s resignation –Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his close ally Sheikh Rashid Ahmed resorted to threats of violence and instigating the masses to rebel against the government during the PTI’s rally here on Wednesday.

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who has been a part of almost all previous governments, including the military regime of Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and is now considered the chief adviser of the cricketer-turned-politician in political circles, set the stage for the anti-government tirade by using derogatory words against government leaders in his seven-minute speech to a mammoth gathering of PTI supporters.

“Waqt aa gya hai inn chorron aur kami kameeney logon sey mulk ko nijaat dilaney ka (It’s time to rid the nation from these thieves and low-life selfish people). Niklo maaro, mar jao, jilao, ghirao aur iss mulk ko inn choron aur beimaan hakumat sey nijaat dilao (Mobilise, die, kill, burn, besiege and force these thieves and corrupt rulers out of power),” said Rashid, as the entire PTI leadership nodded their heads in unison.

Rashid’s threats were reiterated by the PTI chief, who during his address warned that his anti-rigging protest would not remain peaceful after the party’s rally at D-Chowk in Islamabad on November 30.

“After Nov 30 it will be difficult for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to continue running the government,” said Khan, calling on people from all walks of life to gather in Islamabad in large numbers for the rally.

“Nov 30 will be marked in the history of Pakistan as a day on which the people achieved their due rights,” said Khan, adding that it will become difficult for Sharif to rule the country if the PTI was not served justice until November 30.

“Mian sahib, you have misunderstood what ‘Go Nawaz Go’ means,” the PTI chief said addressing the premier. “It does not mean you travel to China, Germany and England. When I said it, I meant for you to resign… not travel abroad.”

Khan said Sharif was blaming all failures of the country on PTI’s protests. “We have done nothing to stop your government from functioning. If the country is in trouble, it is because of your policies,” he said.

The PTI chief said that the government had agreed to five out of six demands he had proposed — the last one being the resignation of the prime minister.

Further, in regard to the judicial commission to probe electoral rigging, Khan claimed that the government was backtracking on a demand which it had previously agreed to.

“I have evidence which proves Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had agreed to form the judicial commission. According to Article 190, officials from any agency — whether it is ISI or MI or IB — could be a part of the investigation. You had agreed to this.”

He went on to state that his Dharna would continue even as investigations into electoral rigging proceed.

“If the investigations prove that the May 2013 general elections are rigged, the prime minister would have to resign,” he said, alleging that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) were complicit in rigging.

“Both parties, together, were complicit in ‘match fixing’,” he said.

Khan also said that he wanted to see an independent judiciary. “A judge cannot gain respect by the use of force; it is his character which earns him respect by society,” he added. He also quoted a British judge as saying that the contempt of court law should not be aimed at quietening a person.

The rally was also addressed by PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Brigadier (r) Ijaz Shah, a former crony of Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf.