Imran Khan, the incarcerated founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has declared that if the government denies permission for the party’s rally in Lahore, “we will turn the rally into a protest.”
During an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala jail earlier today, Imran stated, “If the rally is blocked, the entire nation will gather at Minar-e-Pakistan in protest.”
He emphasized that rallies have been banned in Lahore for the past year and a half, claiming, “Destroying democracy means curtailing freedom, and holding rallies is our constitutional right.”
Imran accused the government of attempting to prevent PTI’s rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, which he said is intended to “protect democracy and freedom” and is supported by the Supreme Court. However, he alleged that the authorities are blocking the event once again.
“Despite assurances, containers were placed and obstacles set up during the Islamabad rally,” he recalled. “Has anyone in the world ever imposed a time limit on ending rallies? We were deceived regarding the Islamabad rally,” he added.
He further warned, “If the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore refuses to grant permission, we will protest at Minar-e-Pakistan.”
Imran compared the current situation to the era of Musharraf’s martial law, claiming that even then, political rallies and the media were not restricted. “Musharraf’s election was free and fair compared to this, and he didn’t ban the media or rallies,” he remarked.
Criticizing the authorities, he said, “Their requests are always heard, but ours are rejected. The commissioner’s statement should have been investigated, but instead, it was dismissed.”
Imran also accused Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and the Chief Election Commissioner of conspiring to commit electoral fraud. “On one side is democracy and those who respect the vote; on the other side are those who respect power,” he stated.
He further alleged that Qazi Faez Isa directly benefits from constitutional amendments and is seeking an extension, taking control of all election cases.
Imran compared the current political climate to the findings of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report, suggesting that the same conditions exist today. “These issues were not present even under Musharraf and Zia-ul-Haq,” he claimed.
He concluded by stating that the nation stands on one side, while a “small ruling class is destroying democracy” on the other.
