Will hold ‘grand rally’ to show public stands with judiciary: Imran Khan

• Says will announce the date of the rally after touring the country for PTI’s membership drive 
• Claims conspiracy is afoot to ruin the country 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that he would hold a ‘grand public rally’ in Islamabad, the date of which he will announce later, to show that the people of Pakistan stand with the judiciary after the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s decision to take an offensive line against the judiciary and debating the conduct of judges in the parliament and other forums as well.

Addressing the media after a meeting of the PTI’s parliamentary party on Wednesday, Imran said he will show Nawaz Sharif why he was ousted, referring to the oft-repeated question of the former prime minister.

“Pakistan’s judiciary has reached this point after a long struggle. We [PTI] were part of that struggle and so was the PML-N,” he said.

The PTI chief went on to say that he would announce the date of the rally after touring the country for the party’s membership drive and consulting with party leaders.

“They [PML-N] are now heading for a clash of institutions on the basis of having a people’s mandate. I will show them that the public stands with justice, not them,” Imran claimed.

Talking about the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Panama Papers case, he said: “Nawaz Sharif’s lies have been exposed, time and again and those were enough to drive him to jail.”

He added that “The first lie was when the Qatari letter was discovered, the second was when Maryam Nawaz’s documents were found to be forged as the Calibri Font did not exist at the stated time.”

Talking about the Election Commission Pakistan’s (ECP) announcement of the dates for the general elections, he said, “We are anticipating elections sometime between July and September and for that we are prepared.”

He said that although in the past, the military derailed democracy in Pakistan and during the dictatorial regime of General Pervez Musharraf, he himself was jailed. However, today the military high command and the Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has clearly stated that the army recognises the Constitution and democracy.

He stressed that “The evolution of democracy comes after a long struggle and Nawaz Sharif is only diverging it to protect his own crimes.”

“The Constitution and democracy are being assaulted, and the conspiracy is afoot to ruin the country,” Khan claimed.

The PTI chief claimed Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif is receiving salary from a company based in Dubai.

Claiming that the LNG agreement is cumbersome on Pakistan, Imran Khan said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who he said is immersed in LNG scandal, is protecting Nawaz Sharif.

Imran Khan said one who siphoned off the country’s wealth abroad could bring nothing but a Qatari letter.