A day after announcing what appeared to be the final showdown with the government, former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that everyone will get a surprise on November 26 — the day when his party’s supporters converge on Rawalpindi to demand early elections.
Addressing the participants of the rally in Rawat on Saturday, some 200 metres away from the federal capital, the PTI chief yesterday announced via video link that he was temporarily ending the march and its next phase would continue from Rawalpindi on the 26th of the current month.
In a meeting with a group of journalists in Lahore today, Imran without divulging details said: “I am aware of their plans, but I am planning ahead.”
The former premier reiterated that he was no more concerned about the appointment of next army chief. “I have no problem with whoever they want to appoint as army chief. Now these people [government] are trapped from both sides,” Express News quoted him as saying.
Imran, who was voted out as prime minister in April this year, said the incumbent rulers would face defeat if early elections were held in the country.
“If these [polls] are not held, there are chances that the country will go bankrupt.”
Speaking on the occasion, the former prime also revealed that he was sent messages through President Arif Alvi for negotiations to end political deadlock in the country.
“But I have only one demand, give the date of the election. Only then discussions can take place,” he added.
Toshakhana watch
Ex-PM Imran said despite using the entire state machinery, the incumbent rulers could not find anything against him except watch that he bought from Toshakhana (gift depository) and later sold it in the market.
The charges of misuse of the Toshakhana against former prime minister Imran Khan took an unusual turn on Tuesday when a well-known Dubai-based businessman came to the fore and claimed he had bought some of the state gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch worth at least Rs2 billion, from Farah Gogi and Shahzad Akbar.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Umar Farooq Zahoor said he bought expensive items, gifted to the PTI chief by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, for $2 million.
“I am going to court on the issue of the watch,” said Imran while referring to the allegations.
Speaking about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s defamation case against Daily Mail, Imran said that the premier is trapped in the London court. “It seems that he will make an out-of-court settlement,” he added.__Tribune.com
