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  • News Desk
  • Aug 17th, 2014
  • Comments Off on War of nerves intensifies: Imran vows to lead protests until Prime Minister quits
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman on Saturday warned the government that his 'tsunami storm' would shift away from Kashmir Highway of federal capital towards Prime Minister's House if Nawaz Sharif did not step down. "I'll sit here and Nawaz Sharif, you decide. You have just one option - resign and hold re-elections," Khan told supporters gathered Saturday on Kashmir Highway where tens of thousands of protesters rallied, defying the pouring rain and demanding Prime Minster Sharif's resignation. Khan said that the current leadership was unacceptable.

"We do not recognise them, we have to get justice, we have to get freedom from these types of rulers," he maintained. Referring to a local court ruling which ordered registration of FIR against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shehbaz Sharif, chief minister Punjab, Imran said: "Azadi march has sent the openers to the pavilion as ...I'm telling you Nawaz Shrif in a friendly tone to go home".

Despite the darkness and the lashing rains, crowds swelled as they entered Islamabad shortly before late Friday night. Imran Khan kept addressing the crowed from time to time in a bid to keep them spellbound with the soul-elevating party songs. Security has been tightened across the capital amid fears of any untoward incidents. The authorities placed shipping containers on roads to block traffic in many areas, disrupting normal life in the city.

Police estimate some 60,000 people are taking part in the rallies while the PTI and PAT organisers claim that the number of protesters is not less than 2000,000. PTI chairman invited Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, an interior minister in Prime Minister Sharif cabinet, to make a choice between a 'monarchy and democracy' and offered him to join his party by playing a role in the creation of a 'New Pakistan'.

"Listen Chaudhry Nisar, I'm offering you to join us [PTI ] as the days of the ruling PML-N are numbered," Imran made a friendly offer to an old Achisonain. They studied together in Lahore. He vowed that he would continue to lead protests in Islamabad along with thousands of his supporters until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stepped down.

"I heard people saying that Imran Khan is suffering from fever. I've been trained in cricket grounds for 21 years. Rain cannot trouble me," said Imran Khan. "I had been trained in sports grounds and it is not a big deal for me to remain awake for 40 hours and brave rain," he said. Imran said workers had come after undertaking a long journey and he didn't want to test them. "Last night I left for the sake of workers, not for myself," Imran added.

About the monsoon rains which poured like never before with arrival of the 'Azadi marchers', Khan thanked Almighty Allah for being so kind. Khan said that his provincial government in Khyber Pakthunkhwa did not waste even a single penny of the taxpayer on useless mega projects such of Jhangla bus (metro bus project).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014


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