ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a massive public gathering in Islamabad on Saturday, as a part of its efforts to pressurize the federal government to initiate investigation into alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.
Imran Khan-led PTI has already been staging a sit-in in the federal capital since mid-August as well as holding rallies across the country in protest against the alleged rigging in 2013 general elections.
Thousands of PTI workers arrived at the Jalsa venue in Islamabad from across the country to attend the public gathering.
#BarhoKManzilQareebHai Today is a defining moment for us as we carry forward our struggle for Justice, InshaAllah. pic.twitter.com/FIauRTwXGq
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 30, 2014
In a statement, the PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry alleged that the PTI workers were being arrested and transport terminals were closed as the government was trying to sabotage today’s Jalsa.
The party workers and supporters arriving from far and wide faced some difficulty in reaching the venue due to the ongoing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) countrywide strike against the killing of its Secretary General Sindh Dr Khalid Mahmood Soomro.
Live Update:
Imran Khan: now ball is in govt’s court, govt has time to probe, decide
— JAAG TV (@JaagAlerts) November 30, 2014
9:12 pm: Imran Khan has announced countrywide shutter down on December 16
9:12 pm: Imran Khan has announced to give a shutter down call to Lahore on December 4, Faisalabad on December 8 and Karachi on December 12.
8:42 pm: Imran Khan begins his address at PTI Jalsa in Islamabad
IK’s speech will now be at 8pm. Because the convoys from other cities are still on their way to the Jalsa gah. #PTIForPakistan
— Ashir Ahmed (@AshirSxe) November 30, 2014
7:00 pm: PTI Jalsa begins, Imran Khan is also stage.
Just in: Federal Info Minister Pervez Rasheed says govt didn’t shut down any channel, cable operators might have acted at their own — JAAG TV (@JaagAlerts) November 30, 2014
#Breaking: SAMAA & ARY transmission shut down in different parts of country, #MQM condemns the move — JAAG TV (@JaagAlerts) November 30, 2014
Just in:SSP Islamabad Asmatullah Junejo says better security arrangements made for #PTIJalsa, no risk could be taken, security on high alert — JAAG TV (@JaagAlerts) November 30, 2014
#Breaking:Informed sources tell JAAG TV #PTI Core committee approves Plan ‘C’,to hold sit-ins, Jalsa against govt,D Chowk Dharna to continue
— JAAG TV (@JaagAlerts) November 30, 2014
On Saturday, the PTI Chairman Imran said while talking to party supporters at D-Chowk, that he would unveil ‘plan C’ on Sunday’s public meeting, claiming that it would make it very difficult for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to manage its affairs.
Imran Khan said that ‘plan A’ was the sit-in outside parliament, ‘plan B’ was the series of countrywide rallies, and on Sunday he would present ‘plan C’.
“In case plan C doesn’t work, I’ll bring plan D,” Imran said, adding that the party’s sit-in on D-Chowk would continue until “justice is done”.