LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that government is surviving due to support of establishment.  Speaking exclusively to a private TV channel he said that there is no government in country at this time but is surviving due to support of establishment.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan termed party’s criticism of military establishment a “constructive one” as he marked beginning of PTI’s long march with a speech. “Our criticism is for your own good,” ex-premier said while addressing Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Agency, in response to yesterday’s press talk. “We do constructive criticism, a criticism that only benefit you and for your betterment”-

“I am not going to leave this country. I will live and die in this country,” added PTI Chief.“I want to see a Pakistan that is free and to have a free country you need a powerful military,” he said, adding that, “If your military is weakened then country loses its freedom”. “So DG ISI sir, when we criticise you, we do constructive criticism, we do it for your own good,” said Imran as he noted that “We do not wish to hurt our country”. Former PM said that government of thieves and rulers are facing corruption cases, while it has also failed in stabilising country’s economy nor government could solve governance issues. “We do not want interference from anywhere,” he said adding that our goal is only elections.

Imran Khan said that those who cannot contest election want interference and public is not with rulers. Rulers want to engage us in backdoor dialogues and bow down before US. PTI Chairman also maintained that his party doesn’t want anyone’s help, adding that he brought a neutral umpire in 200-year history of cricket. He said, “I tried to introduce Electronic Voting Machines for clean and transparent elections but incumbent rulers did not allow let these reforms pass.

“Our only demand is that only free, fair and transparent elections should be held in country and decision taken by people will be accepted by everyone.” To a question regarding sit-in, Imran Khan said that party has just begun. Earlier today, former PM and thousands of supporters started a long-promised march to capital, Islamabad to challenge government of his successor and demand early elections.

Thousands of demonstrators, many of them piled into hundreds of trucks and cars, left Friday from eastern city of Lahore. Many who joined march at start were walking on foot. Convoy, which was expected to arrive sometime next week in Islamabad, got off to a colourful start as Khan’s supporters danced to beat of drums and sang patriotic songs. Addressing supporters before departure from Lahore, Khan described endeavour as a “peaceful march” and claimed his political struggle against government would continue until Sharif’s administration agrees to hold early elections.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 29 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.