Imran Khan to lead PTI's election rally today

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced that he would lead his party's election campaign today (Sunday) from Lahore at 2pm.

Inviting the PTI party workers and supporters to prepare for the rally, Khan said he would personally lead the rally so that the coalition parties know the actual number of people standing by his side.

This would be the first rally that Khan would lead in more than four months as he was mobilising the party from his Zaman Park residence in Punjab's capital. The PTI chief had been at home as he was "recovering" from an injury he sustained last year.

Khan was shot in the legs on November 3 as he waved to crowds from a truck-mounted container while leading a protest march to Islamabad to pressure the government into announcing an early election — but it was cut short in Rawalpindi.

"I will lead the election rally to show them that we are not domesticated animals," the former prime minister — who was ousted in April last year — told his party workers during his address via video link.

Speaking to his party workers, Khan said that the “powerful” segments want to get the upcoming general elections in Punjab and KP cancelled at all costs.

"They would try to get the polls cancelled by assassinating me or bomb blasts [...] I know that they will do something to stop the election,” the PTI chairman added.

The PTI planned on holding its rally on Wednesday, but the interim Punjab government imposed Section 144 (banning public gatherings) in light of "security threats" — resulting in a clash between police and the party's workers.

Following the clash, PTI worker Bilal Ali was found dead, with the party claiming that the Punjab Police was involved in his death, but interim Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi asserted the youth in question died in a car accident.

Besides others, the PTI chairman also held the “neutrals" and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) responsible for the "brutal murder" of Bilal, also known as Zille Shah.

“Zille Shah’s martyrdom not only hurt me but the [entire] nation.”

Reacting to Naqvi’s presser, Khan said that statements from different people were being released to "coverup" the matter. Rubbishing the statement of the interim CM, the PTI leader said the interim government should be ashamed of the murder.

Turning his guns towards the establishment, Khan said a “psychopath” — who he also calls "Dirty Harry" — is spreading hatred in the country. He demanded his resignation but refused to name him.

“They were scared of us as the entire nation stands with the PTI," claimed the deposed prime minister.

Berating Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Khan said that an “absconder” is making the country’s decisions while sitting in London. The court had declared him a “national criminal”.

Urging the judiciary to play its role, the PTI leader said that the judiciary was the sole hurdle for the incumbent government in transforming Pakistan into a "banana republic".