ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan told his supporters in Karachi to prepare for his arrival in the city on Sunday.

Addressing his followers from atop his container at the D-Chowk in front of Parliament House, he said: “Be ready, my dear people in Karachi. I am coming to address a public gathering in your city, but I will be back in Islamabad tomorrow night so I can participate in the sit-in at D-Chowk.”

In a rare show of vulnerability, the PTI chief also admitted that he and his party were learning the game of politics with the passage of time.

“The PTI is running a provincial government this time around, but we will show you a major change in the administration of government business when we come to power,” Mr Khan said.

PTI chief to address rally in Karachi today

In addition, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi finally confirmed on Saturday that Mr Khan had indeed met Dr Tahirul Qadri in London before the two leaders’ march on the capital on Independence Day last month.

Shireen Mazari, the party’s spokesperson, had earlier denied the report. But speaking to a TV channel on Saturday, Mr Qureshi said Shireen Mazari was not aware about the meeting.

However, he claimed that the two leaders had only discussed the political situation in the country and no joint strategy was thrashed out for their long marches.

Mr Qureshi’s admission comes just three days after Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid alleged that a plan to “remove the elected government” and destabilise the country was prepared during a secret meeting between Mr Khan and Dr Qadri in London.

The minister wondered why Imran Khan was trying to conceal this information from the nation.

When the same question was put to Mr Qureshi, he said the timing of the release of such information was the discretion of any political leader.

“Today, I know many things which cannot be disclosed at this point in time.”

Mr Qureshi said that he did not know if any other person was also present in the London meeting.

Also on Saturday, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Dr Tahirul Qadri claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had managed to exonerate himself in 143 corruption cases after coming to power 15 months ago with the help of the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau.

“The prime minister appointed his close aide, retired Major Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, as NAB chairman in connivance with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly,” the PAT chief alleged.

He said that he was not ready to accept such a system where the poor could not survive due to rampant inequality.

“The government has failed to provide relief to the common man. Sixty per cent of Pakistanis cannot make both ends meet,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2014