Imran Khan starts long march in Lahore next 7 days crucial, anything can happen
LAHORE: Former Prime Minister and PTI’s Chief Imran Khan started 7-day journey of much publicised ‘Long March’ to reach federal capital Islamabad on
Friday, 4th November. This is the second such march by Imran this year; first was on May 25 and fizzled out after PTI reached the Red Zone.
In fiery speech at Liberty Chowk, Imran calls on Gen Bajwa to remove those who ‘tortured’ Azam Swati. He called DG ISI’s presser (yesterday) ‘more political than those of Sheikh Rashid’. He slammed the chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence for addressing a “political” press conference a day earlier.
Imran Khan reacted to this presser by the head of Pakistan’s premier spy agency as well as the military spokesperson, saying it was not the “job” of army officers to hold media talks to discuss political issues.
“You [DG ISI] said that you are apolitical, that we [army] are not involved in politics,” Khan said, addressing Gen Anjum. “DG ISI, I haven’t even seen Sheikh Rashid conduct a more political press conference [than the one you addressed].”
“DG ISI, listen carefully, the things I know, I am staying silent for my institutions and the country. I don’t want to damage my country,” Khan said as the crowd cheered. “When we criticize [army], it is constructive and for your betterment.” “I am saying this again, I can say a lot and can respond to you. But I don’t want the institutions to get weak.”
In remarks to journalists on Thursday, Anjum, who was dressed in civilian clothing, said he was aware that the media was “surprised by my presence,” but he could not remain silent while the military was being “targeted for no reason.”
“If you (Khan) are convinced that the head of your army is a traitor, then why did you praise him so much just in the recent past?” Anjum said. “If he was really a traitor in your point of view, then why do you still meet him behind closed doors?”
“Don’t do this, that you meet us in the dark of night behind closed doors to express your constitutional and unconstitutional wishes and then in the light of day call the same person a traitor.”
“This march of mine, this is not for politics, this is not for elections or for personal gains,” Khan told the crowd. “It has one purpose, that I free my nation … that this nation’s decisions aren’t made in another country.”
“We will stay peaceful,” he added.
Imran lauds India’s independent policy
According to ANI report, Imran Khan once again applauded India for its independent foreign policy and New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil in line with its national interests despite Western pressure amid the Ukraine war.
These remarks come as Imran Khan kicks off the Haqiqi Azadi long march from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk to Islamabad on Friday. During his first speech, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that India is able to import oil from Russia at its will however Pakistanis are a slave who failed to make decisions for the welfare of their country’s people. “The decisions of this nation must be made inside the nation. If Russia is giving cheap oil and if I have the choice to save my countrymen, no one should ask us. No one should be able to tell us. India can take oil from Russia but slave Pakistanis are not allowed. I want to see a free country and justice must prevail and people should be provided safety and security,” Imran Khan said.
In the political struggle of 26 years, Imran Khan said this is the most crucial journey that he is starting. “My aim is only one. We were being freed from the Britishers and it is time we start the Haqiqi Azadi. This is my message to all Pakistanis. This march is not for politics and not for elections or for religion. There is only one motive for the rally that I want to make Pakistan free.”
He stressed that common Pakistanis are suffering. He warned that people will sacrifice everything for saving the country. “Listen to this carefully. People are watching the drama. Inflation has engulfed the country. Imported thieves have done the blunder of inflation. But they (ruling party members) are acquitted of Rs 11 crore scam. Their handlers, if they believe, they will be accepted.. listen carefully, this country will be able to sacrifice anything.”
This is however not the first time when he praised India. Earlier, Imran Khan lauded India for its independent foreign policy, as the leader slammed Western countries for being critical of India for buying Russian oil.
Since his ouster from power in April, Imran Khan has decried a US-led foreign conspiracy against him. While criticizing the Joe Biden administration, Imran Khan on many occasions lauded India for not giving in to the demand of the West and continuing to purchase Russian oil despite being a “strategic ally” of the US.
During a huge gathering in Lahore earlier, Imran Khan’s PTI party played out a video clip of India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar from the Bratislava Forum, held in June, where the Indian minister said that New Delhi will do what is best for their people.
“When the Indian foreign minister was asked not to buy Russian oil. He said who are they to dictate India’s foreign policy. Europe is buying Russia’s oil and people need it. He said that they will continue to buy it,” Imran Khan said while quoting EAM Jaishankar and added “Yeh hota hai aazad mulk.” (This is what an independent nation looks like)
Drawing a comparison between the two countries, the PTI chief slammed the Shehbaz government for bowing down to US pressure on buying Russian oil.
“We had spoken to Russia about buying cheaper oil but this government has no courage to say no to US pressure. Fuel prices are skyrocketing, people are below the poverty line. I am against this slavery,” Khan said.
“If India which got independence at the same time as Pakistan and if New Delhi can take a firm stand and make their foreign policy as per the need of its people then who are they (Shehbaz Sharif government) who are toeing the line,” Imran Khan said at the gathering.
Jaishankar’s remarks which Imran Khan referred to was delivered at the GLOBSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum being held in Slovakia in June this year. During the forum held in June, EAM Jaishankar hit back at the unfair criticism against Indian oil purchase from Russia amid the Ukraine war that has created a knock-off effect on the world economy.
Moreover, lauding India for not buckling under the “US pressure” and buying the discounted oil from Russia, Imran Khan had said that his government was also working on the same thing with the help of an independent foreign policy and slammed Pakistan Muslim League (N)-led government for “running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin”.
This comes after the Indian government reduced the price of petrol by Rs 9.5 per litre and Diesel by Rs 7 per litre. “Despite being part of the Quad, India sustained pressure from the US and bought discounted Russian oil to provide relief to the masses. This is what our govt was working to achieve with the help of an independent foreign policy,” Imran Khan tweeted while retweeting an information about reduction of the petrol and diesel prices in India.
Imran Khan said “Mir Jafars and Mir Sadiqs” bowed to the external pressure forcing a regime change, and “are now running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin.”
Earlier, lauding India as “khuddar quam” (very self-respecting people), Imran Khan has said that no superpower can dictate terms to the neighbouring country, admitting that both New Delhi and Islamabad do not share a good relationship.
“Indians are khuddar quam (very self-respecting people). No superpower can dictate terms to India,” he had said during his national address on the eve of a controversial no-confidence vote that looks certain to dismiss him.