PTI postpones ‘lockdown’, to celebrate ‘thanksgiving’ day tomorrow

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ISLAMABAD: After all the hype and sufferings by the workers, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Tuesday announced that the party would hold a historic Thanks Giving Grand Rally on 2nd November (Wednesday) instead of Islamabad Lock down.

He announced that Thanks Giving meeting would be held at Parade ground and invited party workers and people to attend in large number at 2 PM.

Addressing the Party workers outside his Bani Gala residence, an apparently relaxed Imran Khan announced the decision after the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked both the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to submit their Terms of Reference (ToRs) on the formation of a commission to probe the Panama Papers leaks. The PTI leadership took the decision after a meeting of the top leaders at Imran’s residence.

While declaring the Supreme Court decision a “victory”, Imran’s announcement is a significant about-turn from what PTI leaders had been saying just hours before.

Political observers commenting the U Turn of Imran Khan said although the PTI had been continually proclaiming it would lay siege to the capital on Nov 2 and had managed to generate some sympathy when it came to its position on the Panama Papers leaks, it had begun to run into significant roadblocks.

They said the party was beginning to have trouble in gathering a sizeable enough crowd as the government had acted swiftly to prevent opposition gatherings using Section 144 in Islamabad and separately toughening checks when it came to those crossing from KP into Punjab and the capital.

This was resulting in problems for the party in sustaining the momentum of its protest. In light of this scenario, today’s proceedings at the apex court inadvertently provided it with room to withdraw from its earlier proclamations of laying siege to the capital along with saving its face to some extent.

Imran Khan thanked the workers for their support in the struggle and expressed the confidence that ten lakh people would gather at the democracy park (parade ground).He said the mobilisation of the PTI workers for Islamabad is for the betterment of their children.

Expressing his gratitude to the Supreme Court for its decision, Imran Khan said the entire nation is grateful to the apex court. He said he had laid two conditions to the Prime Minister either to resign or offer for accountability into Panama Leaks.

He complained that he could not get justice from the Parliament despite all serious efforts. He said due to the Supreme Court decision, they will observe Thanks Giving Day on Wednesday (2nd November). He said at the meeting he would announce future course of action.

Imran Khan said the Lahore High Court has also given a decision to remove all the containers and release PTI activities put in jail. He demanded removal of all containers and removal of posts outside his residence in Banigala warning that they would be removed with force otherwise.

Addressing PTI workers who had to return to Swabi on Monday night after clashes with the police, Imran Khan asked them to go to their homes, take rest and reach Islamabad tomorrow (Wednesday).