FAISALABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Sunday that the “tsunami”, a reference to the movement launched by his party, would not stop unless verification of voters’ thumb impression was carried out in four constituencies and electoral reforms were introduced in the country.

If election rigging was confirmed (as a result of the verification), he warned, his party would seek action under Article 6 of the Constitution against the PML-N, former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Mir Shakeel-ur-Rahman.

Addressing a public meeting at the Dhobi Ghat ground here, Mr Khan announced that the PTI would stage its next rally in Sialkot on June 7.

He said corruption, lack of justice and “family politics” were major problems of the country. “The PTI wants introduction of a system based on justice for all but it is not possible without free and fair elections.”

About the power crisis, Mr Khan said that immediately after assuming power the Nawaz Sharif government had released Rs500 billion to pay circular debt to independent power producers, but the crisis still persisted even though tariff had been doubled.

If election rigging is confirmed, the PTI will seek action against the PML-N, former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and Mir Shakeel-ur-Rahman

“I challenged the prime minister to hand over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s power generation and distribution system to the provincial government with a commitment that it will curb power theft and reduce tariff, but he did not accept the challenge,” he said.

Mr Khan accused the government of wasting Rs1bn daily and said that instead of breaking “begging bowl”, it had obtained $50 billion from donor agencies.

He said the Sharif brothers were trying to “purchase” youth by giving them laptops but they should know that ideology and passion could not be bought.

Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid blamed the government for electricity and gas loadshedding and unemployment and asked PTI workers to get ready for a long march and a siege of parliament. There would be a “sacrifice” before Eidul Azha, he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to India, he said he was going there to release pressure he faced at home.

PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Javed Hashmi criticised the district administration for organising a music show at the Jinnah Park which attracted a large number of people.

PTI workers from different parts of Punjab, including women, came to Faisalabad in rallies to attend their party’s meeting. Large banners inscribed with slogans against alleged poll rigging, loadshedding, price hike and unemployment were seen at the site of the gathering and on different roads of the city.

Over 3,000 policemen were deployed at and around the venue of the gathering. PTI workers removed barbed wire placed to stop people from reaching near the stage.

Earlier talking to reporters at the airport, the PTI chief said days of the government had been numbered. He said the electricity situation had improved in Islamabad as a result of his recent public address there and now funds had been released for Faisalabad where a youth festival had been organised.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2014