ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan has told his party leaders about his possible arrest within the next two weeks. A strategy has been devised for the protest following Khan’s arrest. However, the party sources said this time the protest will be “really peaceful” and no one would go near any cantonment or military areas.
PTI sources said that for the party leaders, most of whom are still hiding to avert arrest, the direction is to participate in the protest in such a manner that none of them is arrested. It will be a protest without arrest, said a source.
No individual whether the party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi or anyone else will be given the leadership role in the case of Khan’s arrest. The party will be run by a new core committee, names of whose members may not be even announced to avert their possible arrest.
Most members of the old core committee have already deserted. Till now no one knows who will be the member of the new core committee. It’s a secret with Imran Khan, who has told his party leaders that in the case of his arrest the names of the new core committee members will be conveyed to all concerned.
Regarding the protest pattern and style, the PTI sources said that even that is confidential and not being disclosed to ensure it becomes successful and noticed, and not thwarted by the government. It is, however, assured that it will be really peaceful.
Imran Khan-led PTI believes that Khan’s arrest will contribute to further the popularity of the party and its chairman. Desertion of PTI leaders following May 9 attacks, it is believed, did not make any dent to the party. Instead, these sources insist, the party is more popular in masses and those who had scripted the fate of the PTI has failed to achieve the goal.
The party sources said that Imran Khan has the information about his possible arrest within the next two weeks. These sources say that the party leadership is confident that the Dubai plan (referring to Nawaz-Zardari discussions) as well as the script of demolishing the PTI will get topsy-turvy.
It is said that though the weak leadership of the party has deserted, the crackdown on the party has created more sympathy among masses for the PTI and its chairman. The party sources reiterated that no minus-Imran Khan formula will be acceptable either to Khan or his leaders, most of whom are in hiding.
The PTI leaders believe that July would be tough for them but later the things would start improving for the party. The party resolved to contest the next elections whether they are held in October or November.
Imran Khan, in a recent interview to a foreign publication, had also hinted at his arrest in 15-20 days.