PTI to finalise long march plan on 15th
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ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has convened a meeting of his party’s core committee on July 15, to finalise the programme for the ‘long march’ the PTI plans to stage in Islamabad on Aug 14 in protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 elections.
According to PTI spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari, the core committee would finalise the programme after seeking suggestions from party leaders.
She told Dawn on Sunday that the PTI was determined to hold its ‘Azadi March’ peacefully.
Core committee will take a decision after seeking suggestions from party leaders
The government has reportedly sent an invitation to Mr Khan to attend the official Independence Day ceremony in Islamabad, but Dr Mazari expressed ignorance about it.
But a PTI source said the core committee would consider the invitation and decide about the party’s response to it.
PTI’s vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a statement that the Aug 14 march would be peaceful and there would be no change in its date.
He warned the government not to try to stop the long march, otherwise it would itself be responsible for any situation arising out of its decision. “There will be no chance of a clash if the government does not create hurdles in the way of the long march,” he said.
Mr Qureshi said it was the responsibility of the government to maintain peace during the march.
He appealed to the PTI workers to reach Islamabad on Aug 14 by crossing all hurdles.
Meanwhile, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq at a news conference in Lahore urged Imran Khan not to turn the Independence Day into a day of agitation.
“Indulging in politics at a time when the country is fighting a war will do more harm than good,” said the minister at the hurriedly-called news conference at the Lahore Press Club.
He urged the PTI chief to change the date of his long march. “Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations date back when both Mr Khan and I were not born. This year too August 14 will not be merely an event of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. We will extend an invitation to Mr Khan and other political leaders to enthusiastically take part in the Independence Day celebrations.”
He said everybody should fly national flag on August 14 all over the country instead of those of their respective parties to boost the morale of the defenders of our motherland.
Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2014
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Comments (34) Closed
Jul 14, 2014 12:40pm
...and the circus goes on...
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Jul 14, 2014 01:03pm
Give me a break! Enough of this "long march" saga. Now go for a "short" march.
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Jul 14, 2014 01:18pm
Even though contemporary political apparatus carries significant flaws, nonetheless, it shall be given ample time to formulating policies and subsequent implementing efforts intended for positive change in the areas of economic growth entwined directly as one of the fundamental sources of alleviating poverty, and the staunch determination of uprooting terrorism with a focus on providing peaceful investment opportunities. On account of such strong-will guided efforts of the current government, onboarding armed forces in drafting and designing impeccable national security policy, warranting the undaunted focus on improving the basic human conditions of the people of Pakistan, Mr. Khan should harness the restive horses of the herd at least on 14 August 2014, so that the nation can celebrate the independence with unity and harmony.
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Jul 14, 2014 01:20pm
The rally is for a totally transparent electoral process. We should fully support that. Without that you will never have true democracy and have leaders who are not beholden to the country but to their family and foreign powers.
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Jul 14, 2014 01:47pm
Imran Khan is fooling the masses and he will not achieve anything by this long march. Parliament is the correct forum for addressing any issues.
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Jul 14, 2014 01:51pm
isn't the timing wrong?
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Jul 14, 2014 01:53pm
rally by crying child in street who was beaton up by other do nothing but cry only.... PTI is a combination of all corrupt people who supported non democratic forces and still on behest of agencies destabilizing elected govt. PTI got votes in KPK but badly failed to perform, Imran Khan remotely running govt like NGO.... now if election held PTI will not win even a single seat in KPK.
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Jul 14, 2014 02:12pm
Keep your fingers crossed every one.
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Jul 14, 2014 02:32pm
Selfish Khan will mess up the day for us.
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Jul 14, 2014 02:38pm
What this rally got to do with the military operation? Does the men fighting on the frontlines, or the ones planning the offensive in any shape or form care as to what political maneuvering is being played by the political parties? Even if the government is toppled, that will have no bearing on the military operation. Armed forces are doing their professional job which is to defend Pakistan, which got nothing to do with politics.
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Jul 14, 2014 03:25pm
Rally is more important than the IDP'S. Millions of rupees will be spent in the rally. Can't it be spent on IDP'S? What did the PTI government achieve in KP? All promises of 90days are forgotten.. Lives of people who voted for PTI are miserable staying in IDP camps.
Why can't PTI run and prove itself in KP? Can't long march be postponed until the IDP'S are settled?
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Jul 14, 2014 03:32pm
Those opposing call for fair justice are uncaring about rising crime and corruption.
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Jul 14, 2014 03:36pm
@Ravi Dallas TX ------ Tsunamis and tornados do not have timings but sad tidings,
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Jul 14, 2014 03:38pm
@Taimoor Khan ---- politicians are included in the PAKISTANIS that the forces are protection---- thereby the GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN
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Jul 14, 2014 04:19pm
Mr 90 days/350 dams should concentrate on meeting at least 10% of his campaign promises in KPK. PTI's politics for the last 10 years has been arouned drones and tribal areas. Now they are A-OK with whatever is going on in Wazirstan with no help in sight for IDPs.
Seems to me they are trying to cut and run.
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Jul 14, 2014 04:23pm
What is the point in celebrating independence day, what independence, what democracy, what Pakistan. Is this a country to be proud of? I don't think so. I am not a PTI supporter but I'd rather march peacefully for a better Pakistan. What other options has PTI left, they have tried Parliament, election commission, courts.
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Jul 14, 2014 04:24pm
@Ahmed Fighting for democracy in a democratic way is not a circus but then again what would you know, you probably have never seen democracy in action.
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Jul 14, 2014 04:28pm
I first thought 14th August was a bad day but now I think it is a good day for a new Pakistan. Lets be honest the current Pakistan is corrupt, a failed state, Immoral and unjust so what is the point of celebrating the creation of such a state.
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Jul 14, 2014 04:28pm
@Amin Ansari Totally agree with you
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Jul 14, 2014 04:52pm
Even though contemporary political apparatus carries significant flaws, nonetheless, it shall be given ample time to formulating policies and subsequent implementing efforts intended for positive change in the areas of economic growth entwined directly as one of the fundamental sources of alleviating poverty, and the staunch determination of uprooting terrorism with a focus on providing peaceful investment opportunities. On account of such strong-will guided efforts of the current government, onboarding armed forces in drafting and designing impeccable national security policy, warranting the undaunted focus on improving the basic human conditions of the people of Pakistan, Mr. Khan should harness the restive horses of the herd at least on 14 August 2014, so that the nation can celebrate the independence with unity and harmony.
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Jul 14, 2014 05:17pm
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, you are not in capacity and your just provocation could not help to change the situation people, because now you neither honest yourself nor for the people of Pakistan and Pakistan but only and only hungry of Power to make more slave to people of Pakistan and to destabilize while our great armed forces sacrificing their life for beloved country Pakistan and you trying to create problem more with the help of Pakistan enemies..be careful, The almighty ALLAH know all about your hypocrisy movement.
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Jul 14, 2014 05:30pm
Good decision by IK. I won!
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Jul 14, 2014 05:38pm
If I was IK, I would concentrate on building at least 70 of the 350 dams over 4 years I promised for KPK a couple months back.
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Jul 14, 2014 05:38pm
Fed up with these rallies... it'd only add chaos... PTI should re-think its strategy.
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Jul 14, 2014 08:02pm
@Anwar
U need go back and check KPK stats or perhaps go visit a gov office or even airport to see the change. IDPs is not KPKs fault. All terrorism is due to lack of communication from federal.... Just as the operation was not even shared with KPK. Everything aside I need justification from judges and election commission on rigging... Why are they resisting... It's time to stop letting go of these frauds. At least Imran is persistent unlike the general public.
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Jul 14, 2014 09:52pm
Even Mao did not take this long, and did not make such a loud racket and PR campaign, before he launched his 10000 mile long march. PTI is all noise, no action.
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Jul 14, 2014 10:41pm
One simple request to IK " Please Grow Up"
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Jul 15, 2014 12:50am
As usual it looks as though Imran takes decisions, which generally turn out to be wrong, and then consults the party. He looks down upon most leaders as dishonest and considers himself a saint. Saint indeed! Please some one, truthfully, narrate his achievements in KPK which would help me vote for the man next time.No sir,no, he is just not PM material. I hope the core committee asks of him to drop agitational politics, accept the results gracefully and offer to become a strong opposition in the Parliament to keep the present ruling lot under vigilance. Will Imran rise to the occasion or select September for the next Jalsa.
The later, in my view, is more likely to take place.
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Jul 15, 2014 01:56am
Imran: What are you trying to prove? other than make fool of yourself.
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Jul 15, 2014 02:06am
Why govt can't order the investigation on election fraud in 4 Halaqa's Imran Khan has been requesting for months... That is his primary demand. Get it done so that IK can stop long marches.
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Jul 15, 2014 02:45am
Sonami means destruction of massive scale, so PTI will try to destroy pakistan on Independence Day
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Jul 15, 2014 05:17am
Please understand that these long walks are good for Mr Khan.
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Jul 15, 2014 02:59pm
dead sure, if all the demands by khan r addressed n mid term election gives unfavorable results to PTI, they wil never accept n will go for another long march.
even if they win who wil guarantee that PMLN accepts it?????
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Jul 15, 2014 03:14pm
DEAD SURE, if all the demands by Khan r addressed n mid term elections give unfavorable results to PTI, they will never accept it n will go for another long march
even if PTI wins who wil guarantee that PMLN wil accept the results n wil not go for long march
IK Pls think for Pakistan n perform in KPK, u can do it, u r great fighter, fight against corruption, poverty, terrorism........
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