End protest, get ready for Islamabad march, Imran Khan directs PTI workers

ISLAMABAD: Irked by the judgment of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Toshakhana reference, PTI Chairman Imran Khan Friday directed his party’s workers to end their protest and get ready for the proposed long march in Islamabad.

In a pre-recorded message, Khan told his supporters that he can give a call for the Islamabad march at any time.

Raising questions over the impartiality of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, Khan said: “He is part of that conspiracy. He is part of the mafia.”

Citing the example of the “East Pakistan” tragedy, Khan said, “The mafia is trying to eliminate the country’s biggest/federal party in the country. He maintained that they were again trying to repeat the mistake again.

“They were again trying to eliminate the party which can keep the federation united,” he added.

Feared by his mass public meetings and people’s support, PDM wanted elections after disqualifying him, said the former prime minister.

Accusing the CEC of being biased, Khan said he already knew the result of the case, adding that had told everyone that he would be disqualified.

“I will spend the rest of all my life fighting these thieves, and the CEC is part of those thieves,” said Khan.

Big criminals who are involved in mega corruption cases are being saved in the country, the PTI chair said as he vowed that his party would hold the biggest long march in the country’s history this month.

He, however, did not announce a date for the long march.

Earlier today, the ECP disqualified PTI Chairman Imran Khan, finding him guilty of not sharing details of Toshakhana gifts and proceeds from their sale during his time as prime minister.

A five-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, unanimously ruled against Khan under Article 63 (p) of the Constitution.

Protests erupt across

Following the disqualification of former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference, PTI activists took to the streets across the country to record their protest against the verdict issued by the ECP.

The ECP’s highly anticipated judgment in the Toshakhana reference plunged Pakistan into chaos as protests erupted in all the major cities of the country.

According to police sources, three major arteries leading to Islamabad have been blocked by the district administrator to avoid any untoward incident.

Commuters, ambulances, students, and motorists remained stranded for hours in traffic after the PTI’s workers blocked Faizabad-Murree Road. The police restored to tear-gas shelling against PTI activists when they tried to enter Islamabad via Faizabad.

In Lahore, PTI activists took out a rally on Ferozepur Road and suspended the Metro Bus Service from Gajomta to Kalma Chowk. The activists staged protests at Shahdara Chowk, and GPO Chowk on Mall Road and took out rallies in other areas of the city.