PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday told his supporters to call off the protests being staged across the country against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s decision to disqualify him in the Toshakhana reference.
In a pre-recorded message aired on TV, the PTI chief lashed out at the ruling coalition for attempting to “silence” him. He also stated that he had anticipated the verdict, accusing the chief election commissioner of being biased.
However, he softened his tone at the end of his address, telling his supporters to call off the protests being staged across the country.
Vowing to fight these “thieves” until his last breath, Imran said: “I am asking all protesters to end their demonstrations because people are in difficulty.”
At the same time, he urged his supporters to gear up for the party’s long march. “I had said I will hold a long march by the end of the month. I will hold the biggest protest […] My movement for real freedom will continue until supremacy of law is established.”
Imran said that Pakistan was at a decisive moment. “Allah wants us to rise against these thieves. We can’t get rid of these thieves until we prepare to struggle against them.”
He ended his address by saying that he will give the call for the long march.
Imran’s statement came after enraged PTI supporters took the streets in major cities across the country against the electoral watchdog’s decision to disqualify the former premier.
