On Saturday, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, addressing a news conference at his residence in Bani Gala, revealed that he had instructed his party members, from MNA’s to party leaders overseeing village level administration, to begin preparations for marching to Islamabad to attain “true freedom”. In his first news conference since his controversial ouster, Imran Khan said that although he had instructed his party members to start preparation, he would announce the call for the march at a later date.
“Their only aim was to remove me, they knew which government was coming. Our economy was improving before NCM”-@ImranKhanPTI #ImranKhanMediaTalk #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/bBtWgPp2PL
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 23, 2022
Judging by crowd he was able to pull in his recent Jalsas in the major cities of the country i.e, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, Khan said that a huge sea of people would march towards the capital. He added that the public had become extremely aware politically.
Khan also said that ahead of the march, the party would hold prayers on 27th Ramzan (a historical reference to the date on which Pakistan gained its independence in 1947) for the March’s success.
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Talking about the recent National Security Committee meeting, Khan stressed that the NSC meeting held on the 22 April endorsed his position on the diplomatic cable received by the United States being a foreign interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. Khan added that the National Security Committee also endorsed his stance that the cable was, in fact, genuine.
Earlier, on 22 April, the National Security Committee meeting concluded and “reaffirmed the decisions of the last NSC meeting.” However, after comments from the security agencies, the NSC concluded that it had “no evidence of any conspiracy.” He further added Khan said that the NSC had “confirmed that the cable was genuine and the conversation with [U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia] Donald Lu was real”. Responding to the comment of the NSC on the language of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu, he said that he would go one step further in calling the tone of the language as “arrogant” and not just “undiplomatic.”
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He said that the Supreme Court should have investigated the letter instead of just ignoring the Deputy Speakers ruling in the National Assembly to dismiss the vote of no-confidence on the grounds of article 6. He further requested an open court hearing on the “lettergate scandal.” Expressing his shock at the lack of action from the Supreme Court or the Election Commission on the letter, he said that this “conspiracy” had become the greatest danger to the country’s democracy, adding that” our children’s future will be in danger if our institutions don’t stand up.” Khan also reminded how Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Musharraf had received similar threats. He added that Musharraf succumbed to the pressure and joined the U.S. to fight their war on terrorism.
Khan also slammed the new coalition government and remembered how the same people used to call each other thieves. Khan added that the new government had no shame. Khan emphasized that the country was being run by “criminals” out on bail. “What is a bigger conspiracy than the country being handed over to such people?” he asked.
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