Updates: PTI’s Azadi march towards Islamabad
LAHORE, Pakistan: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has begun its Azadi march towards Islamabad from the party Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park on Thursday.
It comes as the nation is celebrating the country’s 68th Independence Day, and thousands of PTI activists remain determined to march towards the federal capital to protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections and to press for electoral reforms.
In his short speech to his supporters gathered outside his residence in Lahore, Imran Khan said that freedom was never offered on a plate and has to be snatched. “We will free Pakistan from pharaohs,” Khan said.
The PTI Chairman has already rejected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s proposal to have the PTI’s allegations of poll rigging investigated by a three-judge Supreme Court commission. He said that a transparent probe is not possible in the presence of the incumbent prime minister.
Imran Khan demanded that the prime minister should resign and said that his party will hold a sit-in in Islamabad until their demands are met.
Punjab govt not to block PTI’s Azadi march
The sources said that the Punjab government has finally decided not to create hurdles for the supporters and workers of the PTI who have gathered from all over the country to participate in the Azadi march towards the federal capital.
Section 144 imposed across province
Meanwhile, the Punjab Home Department has imposed section 144 throughout the province on Thursday, and it will remain enforced till Monday (August 18).
Under the section, gathering of four or more than four persons will be prohibited. However, gathering with the permission of concerned district administration will be exempted from this ban.
PAT’s Inqilab march leaves Model Town for Islamabad
In a press conference outside his Lahore’s Model Town residence, the PAT leader Dr Tahirul Qadri said that “The Inquilab march is leaving Model Town for Islamabad. I want to wish the country a happy Independence Day. The revolution march leaving from here will give the constitutional and democratic rights to the downtrodden of this country.
Objectives of revolution: provision of democratic, constitutional, social & political rights to the people #InqilabMarchWithDrQadri
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 14, 2014
Our revolution will put into practice the 10-point agenda which the PAT gave on June 10 #InqilabMarchWithDrQadri #LongLivePakistan — Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 14, 2014