Imran urges all parties to join ‘Azadi march’

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that he had always stated that all political parties should join PTI’s ‘Azadi march’ to protest against the massive rigging in May 2013 general elections.

In a statement, he demanded resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and holding of elections again. In this context Imran welcomed the decision of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Tahirul Qadri who is also coming out with the PTI on August 14 for ‘Azadi march’.

Imran reiterated that the PTI has already asked all democratic forces to join the movement to strengthen democracy and rid the country of current ‘Badshahi Nizam’ of the Sharif family.

The PTI chairman reiterated that PTI’s march is peaceful and will be within the constitution.

He said the PTI will never support any extraconstitutional measure and will hold the government solely responsible for any derailment of democracy.

Meanwhile, in an interview with AFP from his home in Lahore, which is currently surrounded by police, Qadri accused authorities of running a campaign of misinformation after the government said his supporters were responsible for the death of a policeman and began a murder investigation into him. “I totally reject these allegations and declare them wrong, false and baseless,” he said.

Qadri, who briefly returned to Pakistan last year before the poll to call for electoral reform, said his movement would campaign for a government of national unity before a fresh vote.

“We would like the participation of all political parties but with the condition that only those people with good character, integrity and honesty with records free of corruption are invited. “Technocrats would be invited and some bureaucrats with very good records.

“Specialists, including economists, lawyers, farmers, traders, industrialists, the labour class — every segment of society should be represented,” he added.