The former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said families of army personnel will also take part in his upcoming march towards Islamabad to remove the “imported government that came to power through a US-backed conspiracy”.
Addressing a huge public gathering in Gujranwala, Imran said, “Police will also help you [in getting to Islamabad]. They will send their family members and government employees will [do the same] as well.
“And I know my army’s families will also join us,” he added.
The former prime minister is planning a long march towards Islamabad at a yet undecided date later this month in a bid to pressure the government into holding immediate elections as he claims that his government was “conspired against” and unfairly ousted by the US with the help of his political opponents and in the form of a successful no-trust move against him last month.
Imran said he would unveil the date of his long march during a rally in Multan on May 20 (Friday), and hoped he would win the “fight for real independence in Islamabad this month”.
Imran called on women, children and the elderly to participate in the march. He said he was calling the people to Islamabad to foil the “American conspiracy” and send a message to all conspirators that Pakistan was a “free nation”.
“This isn’t politics, this is a revolution,” Imran said, adding that the “biggest dacoits and mafias” of the country were standing on one side and the nation on the other.
“This is called revolution when the people become a nation and then we [can] combat these mafias. [We] will badly defeat them.”
Criticising his political opponents, the PTI chairman lashed out at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accusing him of “polishing boots” of officials from the US Embassy.
Imran said PM Shehbaz and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif were “trapped”. “There is an ocean in front of them and Imran Khan is standing behind them.”
He claimed that the PML-N’s time was over and a “sea of people” would soon enter Islamabad and sweep them away.
He added that the prime minister would not be able to escape the cases against him in the Federal Investigation Agency. “As soon as you go [from the prime minister’s seat], the investigation will start and we will take money from you and throw you in jail,” he added.
Imran claimed that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was “very happy” that PM Shehbaz and the PML-N were drawing everyone’s ire.
Commenting on the Supreme Court’s verdict on a presidential reference seeking interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution, which is related to the status of defecting lawmakers, Imran said it was “necessary” for him to pay tribute to the apex court for “wiping out turncoats”.
He said that Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz would have to abdicate his office after the court’s ruling.
