Lahore, Pakistan - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has warned that his supporters will take to the streets if the ruling alliance attempts to obstruct the implementation of a court ruling directing polls in Punjab on May 14. Khan made the statement during a televised address to mark Yaum-i-Tashakkur (gratitude day) celebrations following the Supreme Court's decision to direct for general elections in Punjab.
Speaking to his supporters, Khan stated, "The nation should wait for my call to ensure that the incumbent rulers could not run away from holding elections; otherwise, neither the history nor the future generations will pardon this generation for not waging jihad against the forces undermining the rule of law."
The speech was broadcasted from Khan's Zaman Park residence via a satellite link on mega screens installed at 75 locations across the country, including 13 cities in Punjab. The main gathering of the event was held at the Liberty roundabout in Lahore where PTI supporters gathered despite the rain, holding party flags, and wearing PTI-themed headbands and scarves.
Khan alleged that the "Sicilian mafia" was now standing against the decision of the Supreme Court, which had earlier decided in their favour and overturned PTI's decision to dissolve the National Assembly after opening courts at midnight. Khan also accused "absconder" Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari of sitting in London and Dubai, respectively, and making decisions about the fate of Pakistan.
Khan further accused the incumbent rulers of trying to divide the Supreme Court while working to create a rift between PTI and the establishment, which "might repeat events of 1971". He emphasized that only elections would be the way out to take Pakistan out of the blind alley where it was fast heading.
In an interview with Al Jazeera before the speech, the PTI chairman alleged that the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) could violate the Constitution to prevent national elections due later this year. "They are just scared of the elections and are even willing to violate the Constitution," Khan claimed.
Khan also disclosed that he had held two meetings with former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and wanted to work out how to hold elections. "What I didn't realize was that he wanted an election provided he gets an extension in his tenure," he said, adding that since then he had no conversation with the establishment.
When asked about his plans on restructuring the civil-military relationship if elected back to power, the PTI chairman said Pakistan needed to change. "The current civil and military imbalance has to change if we want Pakistan to get out of this mess," he asserted. "You cannot have a system where the prime minister has the responsibility but he does not have the authority to implement his policies because that authority is shared with the military," he added.
In conclusion, Khan's warning of potential street protests by his supporters in response to potential obstruction of the Supreme Court's ruling highlights the political tension and uncertainty currently present in Pakistan. The situation is one to be closely monitored as the country prepares for upcoming national elections later this year.
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