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Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Spokesman Naeemul Haque on Wednesday warned the government that if it attempts to arrest Imran Khan "it will face a harsh response".
Speaking to DawnNews ahead of PTI Chairman Imran Khan's appearance at the Islamabad High Court, Naeem sarcastically added: "If the government is itching to arrest him, it should do so."
At a time when the PTI is once again planning a protest in the federal capital, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad last week repeated warrants for the arrest of Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri and 70 others for attacking the state-run Pakistan Television during the 2014 sit-in.
Despite the court's orders, the PTI chief was accompanied to court On Wednesday under tight security by a heavy police contingent.
The PTI has planned a 'lockdown' of Islamabad on November 2 if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif doesn’t agree to an investigation into the Panama Papers leaks, under the terms of reference proposed by the opposition or resigns from his position.
Naeemul Haq said that neither Imran Khan, nor any other PTI worker, would ask for bail under 'political' cases. "The government is declaring a great leader a terrorist," the PTI spokesman claimed.
PTI chairman Imran Khan had announced the plan to lay siege to Islamabad as part of the party’s accountability movement against the prime minister and members of his family in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks.
PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi had earlier said it could be T20, one day or five-day test match, and if the government didn’t behave, “we are even ready for a tournament”.
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Comments (63) Closed
Oct 26, 2016 06:25pm
Fortune favors the bold!
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Oct 26, 2016 06:28pm
To become a true pak politician IK should taste the jail for a while.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:31pm
Weed out the corrupt incumbents, this is the time now or never
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Oct 26, 2016 06:35pm
Yes He cannot be jailed because He is also above the law .
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Oct 26, 2016 06:38pm
@Philosopher (from Japan) - It's imminent for NS!
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Oct 26, 2016 06:38pm
Corruption should be eradicated and corrupt leaders should be punished.. Political leaders should be honest and role model for the nation. There should be peaceful protests BUT what is my fault if my children cannot to school due to blockage on roads, I cannot go to my office, in case of emergency there is no access to hospital....so whoever is the political leader s/he should also respect the rights of the people of Pakistan. There should be no jungle rule. Give me my rights and I am happy with that political party.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:43pm
The nation is mourning Quetta carnage and they are doing dirty politics at this sad moment.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:44pm
This reminds me of the replay of the Bhutto era of 1977 crisis when Zia took over the reign
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Oct 26, 2016 06:45pm
No one will arrest IK. As he is not a groomed politician yet.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:49pm
The whole dharna can be avoided if NS acts as a true democratic leader and present himself for the panama accountability.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:53pm
@Harmony-1© Imminent for IK too.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:54pm
Its NS who is allowing Islamabad to be shut down because he is not putting himself forward for Investigation.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:56pm
IK we are with you knock the wall down..
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Oct 26, 2016 06:58pm
Imran khan is not above the law. If he breaks it he has to accept consequences
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Oct 26, 2016 06:59pm
@Harmony-1© In Pakistani politics nothing is imminent, everything happens under cover.
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Oct 26, 2016 06:59pm
@Philosopher (from Japan) You should be given a taste of jail too, then you'll become true supporter of NS.
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Oct 26, 2016 07:02pm
In any democracy "accountability" of politicians and the government is a requirement.
Imran Khan is rightly demanding investigation for PM Nawaz Sharif's secret Panama bank accounts. Government has evaded TORs and investigation even after 6 months?
Therefore, Imran Khan has the democratic right to protest. The government should not try to arrest him or the people, such gestapo tactics go against democracy. In a democracy, the people have the right to protest and demonstrate peacefully.
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Oct 26, 2016 07:04pm
For Shah Mahmood Qureshi and PTI it is a game of cricket but it is a matter of life and death for the people of Islamabad. I think the people of Islamabad should come out and block the roads and stop IK from crippling the city. Police should also have check posts at each entry point into the city and thoroughly check every one for any weapons or Danda or any other objects that could cause destruction. All cars must be stopped and checked.
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Oct 26, 2016 07:12pm
What PTI fails to understand is that politics is not cricket.
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Oct 26, 2016 07:13pm
@Ali Suggest and go read history of fascism.
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Oct 26, 2016 07:16pm
Because he is ABOVE the law!
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Oct 26, 2016 07:16pm
@Imran Are you for real?!?!?
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Oct 26, 2016 07:36pm
let them dare to Touch IMRAN Khan we will show them what we can do INQALAB will be imminent
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Oct 26, 2016 07:40pm
@Ali yes, people has right to protest but not to shut down the entire city and inconvenience to everyone.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:01pm
@Taimur .... The citizens who have done nothing to cure Pakistan's ills have only themselves to blame. The masses have nothing to lose they haven't lost already. What did you think this was about? They intend to stop you and your children from going to work and school because they want to get your attention. They are going to wake you up whether you want to wake up or not. This is happening because the poor have no dialogue with the elite. It might be a bad idea to risk your childrens' safety by sending them away from home.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:13pm
@Alba Not a very convincing argument. The people of Islamabad are wide and awake and we know what is right for us.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:15pm
@Taimur Just saying corruption should be removed and not doing anything about is hypocrisy.You might rightly care for your kids going to school but do you know according to a recent report in Dawn, Pakistan spends the least on education in South Asia leading to millions of children not going to schools which creates illiteracy, immorality and ultimately multiplies corruption. Even if you don't act against corruption is just fine but at least don't stop IK who has sacrificied a luxurious life in London to hold the looters and plunderers accountable. If you can't do anything against corruption yourself at least don't stop those who can. Stop being selfish and think about the millions of children not attending school. You might have loved Edhi but become selfless like him and also start thinking of millions of illiterate kids as your own just like our beloved Edhi did. They make roads but don't invest on education, they propagate lies but don't present themselves for accountability.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:16pm
Justice does not fear any responses!
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Oct 26, 2016 08:23pm
@Irfan ... I agree with you 100%.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:25pm
@ART KP ... NS has caused this due to his superego.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:27pm
Govt can do ANYTHING to halt the accountability! ..Why doesn't PM Nawaz present himself for accountability if he is innocent?? What is he trying to hide?
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Oct 26, 2016 08:29pm
@Zub, on what grounds should he be jailed? He is not corrupt, he is not patronizing militants like MQM, PMLN and PPP do (Uzair baloch, Saulat Mirza, Chotu gang etc.). Don't blame IK plz..
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Oct 26, 2016 08:30pm
@Philosopher (from Japan), yea that's the mindset we have for politics, i.e. be a top corrupt, go to jail and you are a true politician! Nice..
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Oct 26, 2016 08:31pm
Hooliganism at its height
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Oct 26, 2016 08:31pm
@Fawzia H ... Imran will accept the consequences. He is a man. It is Nawaz Sharif who refuses to accept the consequences.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:35pm
I wondered what would have happened to Pakistan if IK was not raising these issues and was like the rest. Long live IK! This nation is indebted to you. The pakistani nation only values its legend when they are no longer alive.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:44pm
The whole nation supports IK in this war against corruption and injustice.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:47pm
Yes, the Wrath of Khan is coming!
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Oct 26, 2016 08:49pm
The residents of Islamabad has a fundamental right on their residential facilities, roads network , health facility n other amenities and must stress upon their Mayor to respect their rights n maintain its continuous availability. Concerns of Sara are understandable. One wish that residents of Iskamabad n Rawalpindi stand up n guard their cities by a unity chain to stop the intruders who are coming to disrupt their normal daily life and are threatened by the mob psychology.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:54pm
Without Jail, a politician is like a "Paratha" without Butter !
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Oct 26, 2016 08:55pm
@ART KP Sheer frustration out of the mentality of PTI mindset. If you don't endorse wrong doing of IK means you are supporting NS. Pathetic.
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Oct 26, 2016 08:58pm
@Zafar Dahir Well, isn't this special!??
Let me ask you this: When NS commissioned an entire PIA Boeing 777 to bring him and his family back from the UK after the (alleged) heart bypass, do you not think hundreds of Pakistanis were inconvenienced and their schedules disrupted, or they incurred monetary losses, when the could not travel on a schedule flight from the UK? Where were you when that was happening to the entire nation??
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Oct 26, 2016 09:06pm
IK please forgive our nation and stop lying.
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Oct 26, 2016 09:41pm
Imran Khan is too big of an icon to be arrested. It would be a last nail on NS coffin.
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Oct 26, 2016 09:43pm
@Adeel .... I think that is just what will happen. This is one situation the world is anxious to observe from afar.
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Oct 26, 2016 09:58pm
Heard all your comments but let me ask you all. You all are intelligent and well aware of PanamaGate, right? Internationally, Pakistani politicians were named like our PM Nawaz. This is not a story concocted by IK or public.
PM has been avoiding this issue for almost a year. Don't you all want to get rid of corruption , bribery and favoritism so Pakistan become a progressive country? How else would you bring these politicians to accountability?
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Oct 26, 2016 10:02pm
@Zub now i don't know who he is.....cuz the good peeps aren't the above the law peeps.
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Oct 26, 2016 10:14pm
@Philosopher (from Japan)
Jail is for criminals. IK is the most upright person amongst our current lot of politicians.
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Oct 26, 2016 10:16pm
@Imran: IK was the man who was best in Cricket in his tenure and now IK is the man who is best in the Politics at this time.
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Oct 26, 2016 10:29pm
This will be another ineffective adventure only to harm Pakistan further!
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Oct 26, 2016 10:31pm
Double standards, in Karachi 80 year old professor is arrested without any charge and here in Islamabad an absconder is roaming free, no wonder why Pakistan is in this mess
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Oct 26, 2016 10:59pm
PML-N is really scared. Lockdown may cause transparency/ accountability of the Shareef's.
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Oct 26, 2016 11:39pm
Big mistake if Imran is arrested. His protest should be peacefully without effecting peoples life and more importantly effecting stoppage of businesses, schools etc.
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Oct 26, 2016 11:48pm
Government should refrain from arresting IK as IK himself wants to be arrested to raise his political stature.
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Oct 26, 2016 11:52pm
IK sb if you had spend time on educating people then you will be in better situation. stop begin stubborn wait till 2018 . what grantee you give if you become PM your team will not do any corruption? corruption is in our blood so best way is to get out of this
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Oct 27, 2016 01:11am
What else an incompetent and corrupt govt can do. If Mr I. Khan is ireeted, it will be tantamount of acceptance of defeat and intelectally moral bankruptcy. Not a long time, Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, by similar actions was tuned into a national icon. People must remember, Mr I. Khan is not doing anything for himself, his two children have enough, he is taking all troubles for the poor, weak and helpless in a country corrupt to bone. Long live I. Khan and God save Pakistan.
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Oct 27, 2016 05:23am
@The end is near What you mean by whole nation, putting your massage on the Dawn it is not mean you are representative of the Pakistani nation. We do not like this Hypocritical Khan. Hist own Province has nothing exemplary and he is shouting for the Pakistan. Pakistani need peace and jobs. We are already living in the anarchy, bloodshed and we do not need more violence! Just stop this all and wait for the coming election.
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Oct 27, 2016 06:34am
Ik zindabaad
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Oct 27, 2016 06:54am
@Ali you mean KPK was always corruption free therefore there was no action against any corrupt person (mna, MPa, civil Servent ) in last 3 years.
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Oct 27, 2016 11:09am
Pakistani politicians are one of most corrupt leaders on the earth. NS and Asif Z are top of the list. Looting our beloved country with both hads and feet.
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Oct 27, 2016 01:02pm
@Irfan is there a finite list on investigation after which NS will not be bothered by PTI, in reality nothing will ever satisfy KING IK.
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Oct 27, 2016 06:21pm
Waste of state resources is an ongoing process in all political fields of present government's governance.
The government is failing in basic negotiations with opposition parties. Corruption across the board of rulers group is the route cause of all uneasiness in masses.
Law enforcement agencies mustn't use force against law abiding citizens.
In democratic societies the right of protest against corruption is a just process.
Ruling party must use sensible approach in dealing with political issue in the framework of constitutional bounds.
Any unconstitutional move against comman-man is unconstitutional.
The ruling party&it's coalition parties are equally responsible for the chaos prevailing throughout Pakistan's political system.
This speaks of an unconstitutional processes being used by the institutions under the ruling party agenda.
The ruling party must use negotiation processes to manage law and order conditions & not use force to curb constitutional rights of citizens.
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Oct 27, 2016 10:37pm
@Syed Chishti
No one has the right to close a city and torture its people; Sir.
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