IMRAN KHAN BEGINS ‘LONG MARCH’ FOR EARLY ELECTION

Fri 28 October 2022:

Imran Khan, a former Pakistani prime minister, started a “long march” on the country’s capital Islamabad to urge for early elections, applying more pressure to an administration.

Despite being removed from government in April by a no-confidence vote following defections by several of his coalition partners, the former international cricket player still enjoys widespread public support in the South Asian nation.

In the coming week, thousands of people are anticipated to join a convoy that will travel 380 kilometers from Lahore to Islamabad, pausing at several locations to hold demonstrations and assemble additional demonstrators.

“We need to rid the country of looters and thieves who are taking the country’s money for their own interests,” said Muhammad Mazhar, 36, who arrived in Lahore on Friday to take part.

“We need to save the country and change this system, so I am supporting Imran Khan.”

Security has already been tightened in the capital, with hundreds of shipping containers positioned at key intersections, ready to block marchers should they try to storm the government enclave.

Imran releases video message ahead of Friday’s long march

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has released a video message ahead of Friday’s long march to Islamabad.

Imran said the march was not for “personal or political” interests but to attain actual freedom for the country. He said the march’s purpose was to ensure that the country’s decisions were made inside it instead of by “foreign puppets”.

چیئرمین عمران خان کا حقیقی آزادی مارچ کے حوالے سے خصوصی پیغام #WeTrustImranKhan pic.twitter.com/bAcQ0fs0AJ

— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 27, 2022

PTI dedicates long march to Arshad Sharif

The PTI has dedicated its long march to slain journalist Arshad Sharif and the media fraternity, saying people must come out in large numbers if they wanted “actual change” in the country.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar said, “You should take part in this march even if you do not belong to the PTI. The nation must reject decisions taken behind closed doors,” Fawad told a presser, adding that Imran would leave Zaman Park shortly and head towards Liberty Chowk.

Imran announces establishment of university under Arshad Sharif’s name

Imran Khan on Friday announced that a journalism university under the name of slain journalist Arshad Sharif will be established in Punjab to honour him.

عمران خان نے شہید ارشد شریف یونیورسٹی آف جرنلزم کے قیام کا اعلان کردیا.#ArshadSharif #حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/gU225cWsui

— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 28, 2022

Sanaullah warns of ‘strict action’ if long marchers break the law

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the government will deal long march participants with an iron hand and take “strict action” if they attempt to break the law and create a law and order situation in the capital.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, the minister said the Supreme Court’s orders regarding the protest were clear. “If protesters abide by the law, we will facilitate them,” he added.

He said the democracy will be rendered meaningless if “mob culture” continued to grow in the country.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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