The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has started mobilizing party workers ahead of Imran Khan’s much-anticipated public rally at Lahore’s historical Minar-e-Pakistan scheduled for Thursday.
PTI Punjab President Shafqat Mehmood, Ali Zaidi, MPA Musarat Jamshed Cheema and a large number of party workers and leaders visited the venue on Tuesday to review final arrangements. The stage has been set in front of Minar-e-Pakistan with huge containers from where the former prime minister will address the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, PTI Punjab President and former federal minister Shafqat Mehmood said that it will be the most important Jalsa (gathering) in Pakistan’s political history as it will decide the future course of this country. “The Jalsa will decide whether we accept the foreign-imposed government or want to live as an independent nation,” Shafqat Mehmood said.
He appealed to the people to come out in large numbers and prove that Pakistan will not accept an “imported” government “imposed” on them through a “conspiracy”. He was of the view that there will be a tsunami of people at Minar-e-Pakistan.
“There is a huge political crisis in Pakistan and elections are the only solution to overcome such a crisis,” he said while demanding immediate elections in the country.
Former federal minister and PTI Sindh chapter president Ali Zaidi said, “Over one million people attended PTI’s Karachi gathering that was organized on a short notice of just three days.”
Moreover, three rallies were also carried out by PTI leaders from different venues to mobilize workers ahead of the gathering in Lahore.
Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Murad Saeed led a rally from Shadman to Minar-e-Pakistan. Ali Muhammad Khan and Munaza Hassan led another rally from Upper Mall while Chaudhry Fawad, Hammaz Azhar and Qasim Suri led the third one from Gulshan-e-Ravi.
In a video released by Imran Khan, he appealed to the people to come out in large numbers to attend the gathering. “The Pakistan resolution was passed at this place in 1940 when Muslims of sub-continent decided to get an independent state,” said Imran Khan.
“Pakistan couldn’t get real independence as an imported government is imposed on us through a foreign conspiracy. I appeal to all segments of the society, including students, farmers, businessmen, women and children to join me for an independent Pakistan,” Imran Khan said.
Speaking in Lahore, former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, who played a key role in the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, said that he had seen the “threatening letter” and, therefore, he gave that ruling that blocked voting on the no-trust motion.
“Imran Khan was ousted as a result of a foreign conspiracy as the letter was received on March 7 and the no-trust motion was moved in the National Assembly against him the very next day and, therefore, I rejected it,” Suri said.
The venue had played an instrumental role in the political struggle of the PTI. The party organized a huge public gathering at the same place, giving it an extraordinary boom in 2011.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan will address his supporters on Wednesday at 10 pm via social media. He will be hosting a Twitter space where the public can hear him just a day before the jalsa in Lahore.
