Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a movement across Pakistan on November 24. He has called on everyone, including party leaders and activists, to take to the streets to protect the people’s mandate on this day. Imran has called this movement as his ‘last call’.
Jailed Imran Khan has called for a movement across Pakistan on November 24 through his lawyers. He said that the current government led by Shahbaz Sharif has stolen the people’s mandate and arbitrarily arrested ordinary people.
In addition, Imran has alleged that the ‘foundation of an authoritarian government’ has been strengthened through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. And he has called for a movement against these.
Imran Khan said that the center of the protest on November 24 will be Islamabad. There will be protests in Pakistan and around the world, and the movement will not end until the demands are met.
Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad to quell the protests called by Imran Khan.
In Pakistan’s political circles, the announcement of PTI’s long march is being given more importance than the past protests. Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi is not only out of jail this time, she is also actively participating in politics.
How different will PTI’s long march be from past protests?
PTI has not been able to provide any major relief to party founder Imran Khan and other leaders in the recent protests and long marches. In such a situation, the question arises, how different will PTI’s long march on November 24 be from past protests? And what is the strategy of the Shahbaz government to deal with this long march?
PTI’s National Assembly member Sher Ali Arbab said that the purpose of the previous protests was to organize the workers. These programs were taken to keep them motivated and assess the government’s response.
Regarding the November 24 long march, he said that this protest (long march) will be long-term. It will be more organized than all the previous programs and people will also participate in it in large numbers.
Rumors of behind-the-scenes dialogue between the government and PTI
There are also reports in Pakistani political circles that some behind-the-scenes discussions are going on between the PTI and the government.
Government ministers have not yet commented on this issue, while PTI MNA Sher Ali Arbab told BBC Urdu that he is not aware of any discussions with the government or the military establishment.
However, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan confirmed that Barrister Gohar and Chief Minister KPK Ali Amin Gandapur have sought permission to start talks with PTI founder Imran Khan.
After meeting Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, Alima Khan told reporters that Barrister Gahar and Ali Amin Gandapur had sought his (Imran Khan) permission to start talks with the establishment. Imran Khan said that political parties always keep their doors open.
The party’s information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said, there is no communication between the government and the PTI at any level, there is no opportunity to do so, and the protests cannot be stopped.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, the leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the Senate, also said that he has no information about the discussions between the government or the PTI.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui said, Imran Khan has called for the long march through his sisters and his wife is organizing it.
He said, do what is required by law, otherwise I don’t think there is any way to save the workers.
What is the role of Imran Khan’s wife in the PTI’s long march?
Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi is now active in the party’s long march. An audio of her is circulating on social media and the media in which she is giving instructions regarding the long march on November 24.
National Assembly elected member Dawar Khan Kandi told BBC Urdu, Bushra Bibi is our First Lady and our party follows her orders with great respect. And we also think that when Khan sahib is in jail, since Bushra Bibi has also spent time in jail, she is also suffering, then we are happy that her patronage will come to the party and discipline will be established within the party.
On the other hand, Ali Sher Ali Arbab says that Mrs. Khan has conveyed Imran Khan’s message to the workers and leaders. But beyond that, she is not a person of the party’s rank.
He said that the call for the long march has been strengthened through the message of Imran Khan’s sister and wife and it will have a positive impact.
According to political analysts, there are different opinions within the PTI about Bushra Bibi’s involvement in PTI politics.
Aqeel Yousafzai, an analyst who closely follows Khyber Pakhtunkhwa politics, said some in the party were not happy with Bushra Bibi’s “sudden control” over politics.
Translated from BBC Urdu
