March and back-door dialogue continue, lady journalist crushed under container

LAHORE: PTI’s second long march and backdoor channel dialogue both are continued and according to political observers the most crucial time is not very far and unexpected situation can be witnessed by Thursday before Friday which the deadline of long march.

“The confrontation between the government and PTI’s chief Imran Khan can lead to the country to unexpected destiny which may be undemocratic”, the observers hinted.

In his address to the march participants at Murdike on Sunday, Imran Khan, while responding to PM Shehbaz Sharif’s claim of seeking talks on the new army chief’s appointment, said that he does not talk to “boot polishers”.

“I spoke to those with whom Shehbaz hid in the trunk of the car to speak,” said Imran. He also questioned why he would send a message to the premier.

The former prime minister also said that he was not raised in a “military dictator’s nursery”.

“I do not call Ayub Khan daddy like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. I am not like Nawaz Sharif who build General Jilani’s home and pressed General Ziaul Haq’s knees to become a minister,” said the PTI leader.

On the Indian media’s coverage of his attack on military officials, the PTI chief told the neighbouring country’s media that his party is standing with the army.

“I came to power with the people’s power not because of the establishment,” claimed Khan, adding that he only seeks rule of law in the country and the protection of the people’s rights.

Continuing his attack on the coalition government, the PTI chief said that former dictator Pervez Musharraf harmed the country by giving an NRO to these parties.

Imran Khan, however, acknowledged he held negotiations wi

th the establishment on the single-point agenda of free and fair elections. “I only spoke to them [the establishment] and demanded one thing which was to conduct fair and transparent elections in the country and did not say anything else,” he added.

“I still say today that we want clean and transparent elections. We will accept whatever decision the people of Pakistan make.”

On Saturday, Khan demanded Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa take action against officials of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, who, he said, were allegedly involved in the custodial torture of his party leaders.

The PTI leader also maintained during an interview with an international news organization that a recent press conference held by the directors-general of the military’s media wing, ISPR, and the ISI spy agency contained “lies and half-truths” against him.

Long march stopped, tragic death of Sadaf Naeem

Imran Khan on Sunday postponed his anti-government march to Islamabad for a day, after a woman reporter was accidentally killed on way to the capital.

Sadaf Naeem, who was associated with Pakistan’s Channel 5 TV station, died after being crushed by a container vehicle, according to the news channel’s managing editor.

Imran Khan told supporters in Sadhoki, some 60 kilometers from Lahore, that he was postponing the march for a day over the “tragedy.” “It makes me really sad to say that today, because of an accident, we had to postpone it,” the former premier said. “We pray to Allah to grant patience and strength to her family after this tragedy.”

In a tragic incident, Sadaf Naeem, a reporter covering the PTI’s long march for a private TV (Channel Five), was crushed to death during an accident near Sadhoke near Lahore on Sunday.

According to Channel Five, the reporter was run over by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s container. The media outlet said that Sadaf Naeem fell from the container after which she was crushed by the vehicle.

As a result of the incident, the PTI called off today’s activities in solidarity.

Soon after, Imran Khan extended his condolences to the reporter’s family.

“I say this with utmost regret that due to an accident we are postponing the march today. “We pray for the patience and strength of the woman’s family to deal with the tragedy,” he said in a brief address to supporters. He said he had “no words to express my sorrow” at the terrible incident.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry confirmed the development, saying that a female media-personnel was killed and that Imran had himself got off the vehicle to inspect the incident while Rescue 1122 was alerted as well.

Fawad requested the public to take caution while walking along Imran’s container, adding that the lives of all people contributing to the march were “precious and respected”.

Other PTI leaders and members from the journalist fraternity also spoke highly of her and condoled her death.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed regret over the death, saying that he was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

Extending his condolences to her family, PM Shehbaz praised Naeem as a “dynamic and hardworking reporter”.

The prime minister announced Rs5 million financial aid for her family and ordered authorities to immediately complete the regulation process and hand over the amount to her family.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said she spoke to Naeem’s husband, adding that her family would be helped in every possible way.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari too expressed his grief over the death and said it was the responsibility of any social or political event’s organisers to make arrangements to ensure the safety of the public and journalists.

“PTI organisation is fully responsible for the lives and property of the people and journalists involved in the long march.”

FM Bilawal also called on the Punjab government to fully support Naeem’s family, particularly her children.

Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi lauded the deceased and extended his condolences to her family. Furthermore, the chief minister announced financial assistance worth Rs2.5 million for her family. “The Punjab government will take full care of the family,” he tweeted.