Former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday told party leaders and ticket holders to “disassociate themselves from the party” if they could not participate in the PTI’s announced power show for November 24.
Imran reiterated his call for the protest in a statement posted to his X account. “Everyone must join the protest on November 24th. If any PTI leader or ticket holder is not able to ensure their participation in the protest, they should disassociate themselves from the party because this is the decisive moment when the entire nation will come out for freedom. “The nation will not accept any excuse at such a critical time,” the statement reads. Imran called the protest a “golden opportunity to secure genuine freedom for Pakistan”, adding that “enslaved nations eventually die away.”
The former premier acknowledged that he had previously only called on people associated with the PTI to protest, but, added that he was now extending the call to the entire nation since “the final nail has now been hammered into the coffin of democracy in our country”, referring to the allegedly rigged Feb 8 elections. “Come out on Nov 24 with the same passion that you demonstrated on Feb 8, when you came out, despite all the challenges, to prove the power of your vote.” He lamented that the “foundational pillars of democracy” were “suspended” in Pakistan, referring to the rule of law, fair and transparent elections, and freedom of expression.
“There is a complete ban on broadcasting my statements and the media is having to operate under severe restrictions,” he said, adding that repeated internet disruption had cost the country Rs550 billion this year. Imran also decried the “enforced disappearances, brutality, and violence” against PTI workers.
He said such incidents were “bringing our national security institutions into disrepute”.
On the issue of negotiations, the PTI founder said: “I have always been ready for negotiations for the sake of our country.”
However, he said that the onus of negotiations taking place did not lay with the PTI.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan has given go ahead to senior PTI members Ali Amin Gandapur and Barrister Gohar to hold negotiations with the establishment, Aleema Khan confirmed. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail after a meeting with Imran, Aleema relayed his message, calling for the nation to rally on November 24 in a show of solidarity, similar to the February 8 gathering.
“He said November 24 is a crucial day. We need to mobilise to reclaim our right to vote, just as we came out for our ideology earlier this year,” she stated.
She also conveyed that Khan had directed PTI supporters to remain peaceful, saying, “We are not here to cause chaos. We are peacefully fighting for our ideological rights on November 24.”
During the meeting, Ali Amin Gandapur and Barrister Gohar sought permission to approach the establishment for talks, to which Khan agreed, stressing three key demands. “Imran said, ‘We are a political party and open to dialogue, but we will focus on our three core demands,'” she shared.
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