PESHAWAR: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has urged his party workers to reach out to the people all over the, informing them about the party’s upcoming march on the federal capital and start a campaign at the street and village level for rejection of what he called the imported government.

He was speaking to a gathering of his party leaders and lawmakers at the Chief Minister House here on Tuesday.

Mr Khan continued his tirade against the US government for the alleged conspiracy to topple his government and also against the Election Commission of Pakistan.

“The purpose of my visit to Peshawar is to announce a call for a march on Islamabad,” the ousted prime minister said. However, he didn’t announce the date for the long march on Islamabad in his 26 minutes speech.

Says screens will be installed in all cities for Shab-i-Dua by Maulana Tariq Jameel on Ramazan 27

He termed the current situation a decisive moment in the history of Pakistan. “We will have to foil the imported government being imposed on us through a conspiracy.” he said. Secondly, he further said, the top corrupt politicians were engaged in the conspiracy and later on imposed on the nation.

He took a promise from the lawmakers and party workers to go each street, village and locality to ask the people to prepare for the upcoming march on Islamabad and reject the imported government.

“We will take to the street, march to Islamabad and give a message to America that we are a free country. We will give them the message that we’re an honourable country which won’t become anyone’s puppet,” he added.

He said he will come to Islamabad along with the “nation” and will convey the message that America has toppled the PTI government through a conspiracy.

“We will tell them that we will not accept this imported government in any way,” the former prime minister said.

The workers chanted slogans against the dissident MNA from Peshawar, Noor Alam.

Mr Khan urged the charged workers to save this Janoon (zeal) for the march on Islamabad, saying that he will require this zeal there (Islamabad).

He recalled that America’s strategy of “regime change” in Pakistan was similar to what it did to Iran in the 1950s and then Chile.

“They first gave money to media outlets and turned them against the government. Then they bought politicians of the ruling party and later fed money to the opposition.

“This is what they did in Pakistan too,” the PTI chairman said.

Mr Khan claimed that in the past 11 years the foreign or trade deficit was at the lowest level during his government due to its hard work. Similarly, he said, the Pakistan’s economy was growing at five to six per cent while the joblessness ratio in Pakistan was at lowest in the subcontinent.

Govt performance

The international community had praised the PTI government’s performance during the Covid-19 pandemic for minimum damages to the economy.

“Conspiracy was hatched against our government when it overpowered all major problems it was facing since installation,” he said.

“This conspiracy started when America decided to remove Imran Khan,” the PTI chairman said. “Their secretary Donald Lu came to our American ambassador and threatened him that if Imran Khan wasn’t removed Pakistan would have to face difficulties. He also said that if Imran Khan was removed by the no-confidence vote, Pakistan would be forgiven.”

“They [US] knew that the corrupt mafia would seek forgiveness,” Mr Khan said, stating that America knew “these dacoits had money abroad. Always remember, all those leaders who have money, palaces and businesses abroad can never stand up to the US. They will always remain slaves to the US.”

The ousted premier alleged that the Shehbaz Sharif government was bent upon to destroy national institutions, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for his personal benefits.

As soon as he assumed power, Mr Khan claimed, Mr Sharif got all cases against him cleared and removed all the FIA employees who were investigating the cases him and replaced them with his own people. He has also started taking revenge on those who were conducting investigation against him, the PTI chairman added.

Mr Khan also lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, terming him a “planted agent” of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. “Raja has lost all his credibility and he should immediately resign,” he said.

The PTI chairman urged his supporters to start a campaign to collect signatures on an online petition against the CEC.

The former prime minister said that when the result of the foreign funding case would be announced there would be just one party that would emerge with legal funding and it would be PTI.

He also said that the party was going to hold a Shab-i-Dua (an evening for prayer) on Ramazan 27. “I will be with Maulana Tariq Jameel and we will arrange screens in every city,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2022