KARACHI: Despite fears of a breakdown in law and order or a replay of the gory incidents which marred Imran Khan’s recent shutdown in Faisalabad, the PTI chairman’s Karachi protests went off peacefully on Friday, with its show of defiance and carnival atmosphere.

The massive turnout at sit-ins in different parts of the city and the main rally on Sharea Faisal bore all the hallmarks of events held by the PTI, including presence of women and children in large numbers.

In a speech to his supporters on Sharea Faisal, Imran Khan said he could already see a ‘new Pakistan’ emerging with a real democratic dispensation where the rulers would be accountable to people and merit and rule of law would have supremacy.

Imran says rulers will be accountable in ‘new Pakistan’

He said a judicial commission would investigate the alleged rigging in last year’s general elections and those found guilty would be punished. “New elections will be held in the country and I foresee a new Pakistan with real democracy.”

The PTI chief, who had declared a day earlier that he would go ahead with his ‘Plan C’ and enforce a shutdown of Karachi on Friday, also briefly addressed participants of different sit-ins on his way from the airport to Karsaz intersection. His speech at Nursery lasted hardly five minutes.

The PTI chief asked the people of Lahore to get ready for launching a ‘historic protest’ on Dec 15 against the government. “We will build further pressure on Nawaz Sharif so that a judicial commission is formed at the earliest to investigate the poll rigging,” he said.

“We have full confidence in the Supreme Court. The investigation by the commission will expose the elements involved in the rigging. The next elections cannot be transparent unless those found guilty are punished and made accountable.”

He thanked the people of Karachi for responding to his call for the shutdown and said he knew that traders, transporters and other sections of the populace suffered because of the protest.

Imran Khan said that in ‘new Pakistan’ people would get their rights and the rulers would be held accountable. “They will not be able to transfer their wealth to the US and Britain. They will have to spend their money on welfare of the people,” he said in an emphatic tone.

The PTI chief said a few families had been ruling the country for years and time had come to send them home. New people will come forward and bring true democracy to the country.

Turning to the misery in Thar, he mocked the government’s claim to have spent Rs5 billion on provision of clean drinking water. “They are telling lies. Children are dying of hunger. The rulers will have to answer who is responsible for the situation in Thar.”

Mr Khan accused the rulers of getting commission on the motorway being built from Lahore to Karachi. “The commission is being collected through Saifur Rahman, who has become a commission agent of the government. But we will not allow him to do so.”

He said one family had taken over the country and its rule had to be rolled back. It could be possible only if the Supreme Court “exposes poll rigging” and those who had stolen the people’s mandate were made accountable and punished by the commission, he added.

He alleged that the ruling clique was wasting billions of rupees on motorway and metro bus projects.

“With the cooperation of people, we will make those who are receiving commission accountable to the nation and bring back the looted money and spend it on the welfare of the people,” Imran Khan declared.

The PTI chief rejected a perception that his party had forced traders to shut down their business, contending the people had done so on their own. He offered apologies to the people of Karachi for the hardship because of the PTI protest, but said one had to give sacrifices for the sake of freedom.

Imran Khan concluded his speech by raising the slogan of “Go Nawaz go”.

The PTI Vice Chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, thanked the people of Karachi for holding what he called a historic protest.

Earlier, a large number of PTI workers and supporters gathered at the airport to welcome Imran Khan and other leaders of the party. The PTI chief was brought to the city in a procession. People showered rose petals on him and workers danced to the tunes of PTI songs and raised slogans in favour of their leader.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2014