ZULFIQAR AHMAD
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday ended his anti-government sit-in after 126 days in the wake of a brutal terrorist attack on schoolchildren in Peshawar’s Army Public School.
He, however, warned that the party would continue to fight for ‘justice’ and insisted that a judicial commission had to be constituted to investigate vote rigging allegations. “We’ll take to the streets if a probe into 2013 elections is not held,” he warned.
“Due to the situation in the country right now, we have decided to end our protests,” Khan told his party supporters at D-Chowk. The decision was made by PTI’s core committee to end the 126-day-long sit-in protest. The PTI chairman said he decided to end the sit-ins after Peshawar Corps Commander Peshawar apprised him about the security situation.
“The Peshawar Corp Commander apprised us about the whole security situation and told us that forces across border are involved [and] need of the hour is that what Pakistan needs right now is unity,” he added.
Imran said if a judicial commission finds out vote rigging, the prime minister would have to resign and fresh elections should be held. He insisted that the decision to call off the protest was made because the country needed national unity.
“Mian sahib we’re looking forward to you to form a judicial commission within a timeframe. If no rigging proved, we will back off. If proved, call re-election,” he maintained.
Iman said the nation is looking forward to the government, adding democracy is not in just elections as it is in free, fair and transparent elections. “My nation wants me to stand by them and I will…but I ask Nawaz Sharif, will you stand by the country’s demand to investigate elections?” he questioned.
He maintained that PTI decided to end its dharna and they have only one demand: “Judicial Commission to hold a thorough probe into the 2013 elections and bring those involved in rigging to justice”.
Talking about an all-party conference of parliamentary leaders headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Peshawar earlier in the day, Imran said he had participated in the moot in the country’s interest.
“I was initially a bit hesitant to go to the meeting with Nawaz Sharif but then decided that it had to be done in the interest of the nation. I’ve never seen an atrocity like this in my entire life…I cannot even comprehend how someone could kill children like this,” he added.
The PTI chairman thanked his party supporters, especially women, children and youth who stood by him all along during his anti-government sit-ins.
He also reiterated that the government was forced to bring down the petroleum products price due to PTI sit-ins. “Our voice reached every nook and corner of the country. We did the biggest jalsas in the history of the country,” he added.
