Imran warns current political turmoil as situation before 1971 fall of Dhaka

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday compared the present political turmoil in Pakistan to the situation that led to its break-up in 1971, saying the country’s biggest political party was deprived of its mandate back then which caused the secession of East Pakistan (fall of Dhaka). 
Khan, who is also the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was driven out of power in a no-confidence vote in April. He has addressed huge public rallies in different parts of the country in recent months to display his popularity and establish that his political faction has national acceptability. 
The PTI chief is currently leading an anti-government protest march to Islamabad which he kicked off on Friday, October 28, from Lahore’s Liberty Market to force the government to call early general elections.
“I am one of those Pakistanis who witnessed the break-up of their country,” he told his party supporters in Gujranwala. “When I went to East Pakistan to play an under-19 match, we did not even know how furious its people were. And why were they angry? Because the country’s biggest political party from East Pakistan had won the elections but was deprived of its mandate.” 
Khan maintained “a politician” conspired against the party without naming the country’s former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, adding that he pitted the Pakistani military against the leadership of the popular political faction from East Pakistan. 
“The result was that Pakistan was divided in two,” he added. 

The PTI chief said something similar was happening today when the top leaders of the ruling coalition were trying to create friction between the country’s military and his political party.
“This is a conspiracy against the country,” he maintained. 
Khan urged the judiciary, particularly the chief justice of Pakistan, to take notice of the alleged torture of his close aides in police custody. 
“Honorable chief justice,” he said. “I am making an appeal to you while facing the Pakistani nation today. God has given you a huge responsibility. It is your responsibility as the chief justice of Pakistan to give justice to people like Azam Swati, Shahbaz Gill and Jamil Farooqi.” 
“We are looking toward you and the Pakistani judiciary,” he continued. “The whole nation is looking toward you since you have to establish the rule of law in this country.” 
Earlier in the day, Khan’s supporters from Pakistan’s southern Sindh province also started their protest march to the capital. 

The PTI chief posted a video of former federal minister and his party leader from Sindh, Ali Haider Zaidi, addressing a convoy of supporters from atop a vehicle. 
“Haqeeqi Azadi [Real Independence] Caravan from Sindh has started its journey to join us in Islamabad,” Khan wrote on Twitter, promising it would be the “greatest ever gathering of Pakistanis” in the federal capital. 
Separately, Khan’s aide Asad Umar told the media that the PTI chairman had decided to delay his arrival in the capital by a couple of days. 
“Mr. Khan had two options; he could have either skipped a couple of places [between Lahore and Islamabad] and arrived in Islamabad earlier by Friday, November 4,” he said while adding the other option was to delay the arrival to the capital by “two to four days” and meet people at every major stop on the way. 
Umar reiterated the PTI leader would bring a “sea of people” with him to Islamabad regardless of the day he reached his destination. 

Imposition of martial law

“I am not scared of martial law, don’t bother and shall face the situation with courage as sea of people is with me”, Imran Khan said.

 long march Day 5: Imran Khan challenges Nawaz to battle in his constituency

PTI Chairman Imran Khan is leading the long march toward Islamabad with the party and the government still at loggerheads.

The PTI chair, before ending the fourth day of the march, announced that the caravan would reach Islamabad within eight to nine days — as opposed to the earlier schedule, when it was expected to arrive in the capital on November 4.

This is the PTI chair’s second march towards Islamabad after he was ousted via a no-confidence motion earlier this year.

The political instability in Pakistan has also fuelled economic uncertainty, with international rating agencies questioning if the current government can maintain difficult economic policies in the face of political pressure and looming elections.

Role of police

Imran Khan says when marchers reach Islamabad, capital police with side with him. Firing broadsides at Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, PTI chief Imran Khan on Tuesday said that the PML-N leader’s “time has come now”.

“There isn’t any more time left now. I know you are sweating now […] Sanaullah, you and Shehbaz Sharif […] These rats are threatening us.

“Listen to me, when we reach Islamabad […] listen to me Sanaullah […] when we reach Islamabad […] the police you are spending millions on will join us because they too are against thieves,” he said.

PTI chairman Imran Khan, in an address to supporters in Gujranwala on Tuesday, said that the city had broken “Lahore’s record today”.

“Gujranwala, this time won’t come back. I want all of you to participate in this revolution. When I reach Islamabad, I will give a call to the entire country to reach Islamabad.”

Imran said that his nation won’t bow down in front of anyone, nor would be scared of anyone.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi

PTI Vice-President Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he was fine as it was a minor injury. Qureshi was injured while on the top part of the container, however, he assured the people that he was fine. He also shared that PTI Chairman Imran Khan also asked about his well-being after finishing his speech.