Khan agrees to disagree, Faisalabad show will go on

• PTI set to shut down Faisalabad ‘peacefully’ today, stage set with skirmish between PML-N and PTI workers
• Khan welcomes new CEC but wants four provincial election commissioners removed, says govt agreed to judicial commission to probe poll rigging with members of intelligence agencies on board but did not pursue matter further

Despite apparent signs of thaw between the government and anti-government protesters, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to go ahead with “Plan C” and shut down Faisalabad today (Monday), with a commitment to remain peaceful.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan will address his supporters at the famous Ghanta Ghar Chowk at 3:30pm today while the party will also stage sit-ins in nine different areas of Faisalabad.

While Faisalabad traders have strongly condemned PTI’s shutter-down call and made it clear that they will keep their businesses open come what may, the legal fraternity of the city will boycott courts in protest against “corruption, inflation and lawlessness”.

The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) have announced their support for PTI’s plan to observe the strike.

On the other hand, gearing up for today’s show, the city administration has deployed extra police contingents in different parts of Faisalabad in addition to imposing Section 144 and a two-day ban on pillion riding.

Addressing a press conference in Bani Gala on Sunday, the PTI chief apologised to the citizens of Faisalabad beforehand, asserting that PTI “does not want to create problems for them”.

“If traders of Faisalabad think our demands are legitimate, they should join us; otherwise they can continue with their business. Peaceful protest is our right,” said Khan. He said the purpose of the shutdown is to ensure the sanctity of the ballot and bring to book those who indulged in rigging, otherwise “future elections will not be transparent either”.

KHAN HAPPY WITH NEW CEC:

Addressing the press conference, Khan said he did not have any objections against the newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Sardar Raza, but added that provincial election commissioners working under him should be replaced.

Crediting Raza for having a good reputation, Khan said the provincial election commissioners “have no justification to stay in office when they failed to hold free and fair elections”, adding that PTI had no objection over former CEC Fakhruddin G Ibrahim either but “as the members from the provinces were appointed on the basis of give and take by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PML-Nawaz”, the elections were rigged.

‘GOVT NOT SERIOUS ABOUT TALKS’:

Khan also accused the government of not making any serious efforts to resume talks over the party’s longstanding demand for the constitution of a judicial commission and joint investigation team to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

Talking about the 15 meetings already held with the ruling PML-N, the PTI chief said the government had agreed to form a judicial commission and joint investigation team, comprising members from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

“We have documentary proof in this regard but they (government) backed out when pressure was reduced,” he added.

He said the PTI is “maintaining pressure” so that the government forms the commission and start negotiations where they were left.

Khan argued that PTI had withdrawn its core demand of the prime minister’s resignation but the government was not serious about the constitution of a judicial commission.

“The government can announce a judicial commission in 48 hours,” but it is not willing to as it did not pursue the matter after writing a letter to the chief justice on August 13, he added.

To a question, Khan said even if the judicial commission comes out with the report that the elections were not rigged, PTI will not go back to the assemblies and instead “prepare for the next elections”.

Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said everything was settled during the negotiations with the government, except an understating on the terms of reference of the commission.

“One minister hints on talks while the other threatens,” Qureshi said, adding that talks would resume when Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would reach out to him and set a date and time for a meeting.

NO EVIDENCE OF RIGGING:

Responding to media reports that he did not provide any evidence to the election tribunal during the hearing of the alleged rigging case in NA-122, Khan said he could not collect evidence as he was bedridden at the time.

“The evidence is inside polling bags,” he said. “I was in the hospital; how could I collect evidence, should I have sent spies to do that.”

THREE POLITICIANS JOIN PTI:

Earlier, the PTI chief welcomed Saifuddin Khosa, son of PML-N’s disgruntled leader Senator Zulfikar Khosa, Former MNA from PPP Niaz Khan Jakhar and former minister for defence production Sardar Bahadar Khan Sehar into his party.

As allegations were raised over the new entrants, who were termed “turncoats”, Khan admitted that PTI had made the mistake of giving election tickets to “incompetent” people during the 2013 general elections, adding that this time a committee has been set up to prevent such people from being given party tickets.”

PTI VS PML-N, FAISALABAD HEATS UP:

Earlier in the day, as PTI workers made preparations for the party’s show in Faisalabad, PML-N workers threw eggs and rotten tomatoes at them and chanted “Ro Imran Ro”.

According to details, while PTI workers were displaying banners at Ghanta Ghar, PML-N workers also started pasting their own banners. As the PML-N workers were in majority, they forced the PTI supporters to retreat from Ghanta Ghar by pelting them with rotten eggs and tomatoes inscribed with ‘Ro Imran Ro’.

Enraged PTI workers took to Ghanta Ghar Chowk and started chanting “Go Nawaz Go” slogans. In response, PML-N workers started chanting “Ro Imran Ro”.

Speaking to media, PTI Central Spokesperson Shireen Mazari said, “The government’s Gullus are harassing us” but added that PTI will not back out.

Faisalabad is known to be the citadel of PML-N as maximum number of lawmakers of the party hail from the city.

Talking to media, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry said that nobody will be allowed to force anything upon the citizens of Faisalabad.

“We’ll force them to run,” he said.