Peshawar attack: Imran Khan postpones PTI's Dec 18 protests

Published December 16, 2014
PTI Chairman Imran Khan. - INP/File
PTI Chairman Imran Khan. - INP/File
Army troops arrive to conduct an operation at a school under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — AP
Army troops arrive to conduct an operation at a school under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — AP
An ambulance drives away from the Army Public School that is under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — Reuters
An ambulance drives away from the Army Public School that is under attack by terrorists in Peshawar. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Following a deadly terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar on Tuesday that claimed over 120 lives, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has postponed his party's countrywide protests scheduled for Dec 18.

Earlier today, PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry had sent a recommendation to Imran requesting to postpone the party's countrywide protests.

Over 120, including 84 children, were killed when terrorists took hundreds of students and teachers hostage in the Army Public School. The attack was claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

PTI's protest call was aimed at paralysing the entire country to put pressure on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) government to carry out investigations for alleged rigging in last year's general elections.

On Nov 30, Imran had announced his party's Plan 'C', starting from paralysing Faisalabad, Karachi and Lahore in its initial phase and leading up to shutting down the entire country in its final round.

PTI's Faisalabad shutdown call had seen violent clashes taking place with PML-N supporters, resulting in the death of one PTI activist Haq Nawaz. The violence had complicated an already tense political situation with both sides blaming one another for the impasse.

Imran has reiterated his demand of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation, demanding a fresh probe into alleged rigging in the elections. The PTI chief was confident that his new push for street agitation would succeed.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.