Imran summons PTI core committee to review long march strategy

E-Paper | April 27, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Sunday summoned a meeting of the PTI core committee for July 15.

Speaking to Dawn.com, MNA and Central Senior PTI Vice President Asad Umar said the core committee will discuss the overall political situation in the country including the issue of IDP’s.

Asad said that the PTI chief had already demanded of the government to allow international NGO’s to start their work for the relief and rehabilitation of IDP’s in Bannu.

This is due to the difficulty being faced by the provincial government to manage around 0.8 million North Waziristan IDP’s which have resulted from the military operation.

The PTI leader said that the party leadership will review the strategy regarding the August 14 long march in detail.

“It is our demand that the government should investigate the issues of rigging in the May 2013 elections including the matter of special ink which was not used for thumb impression during the polls and the introduction of new electoral reforms for the next general elections in 2018,” he added.

He said that the government had failed to fulfill the PTI demands as yet while it is the constitutional right of the party to hold peaceful protests against the ruling government of PML-N.

“The PTI will not change the long march date at any cost because the party leadership has been waiting for August 14 since last year,” the PTI leader added.

Earlier, Federal Minister of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique urged Imran Khan to change the date of his scheduled long march in Islamabad as it is Independence Day which is celebrated throughout the country.

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PTI Long March

Nuur Hasan

Jul 13, 2014 08:52pm

Our vote was stolen. Election rigging fraud has been proved. As a khuddar qoum we need to fight off the corrupt and the stolen govt. The "armchair" experts, who can do nothing but criticize and support status quo, we are talking a million man March to Islamabad on 14th - with or without you!

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Farid

Jul 13, 2014 08:59pm

Well done Imran, Carry on exposing these crooks.

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Lucky Star

Jul 13, 2014 08:59pm

It will be wise to change the date of long March, because if there are casualties as a result of blasts by Talabans or Gullo butts, the responsibility will be squarely on IK only.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Jul 13, 2014 09:13pm

The date shall not be changed. Enough of this drama from PML-N government There is a limit to everything. I think this goverment don't understand. The amount of frustration building inside people. It is going to create a havoc.

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ejaz ahmed

Jul 13, 2014 09:22pm

Advice to IK. Plant one million trees on AuG.14 and make the difference. People will love you if you do something constructive.Do not divert attention from KPK. You are a failure in KPK

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Arif

Jul 13, 2014 09:28pm

@Farid PTI is a group of noblest nobles

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Harmony

Jul 13, 2014 09:37pm

@ejaz ahmed - If you think seeking justice is not "something constructive" then that's very unfortunate and worrying that such state of mind exists. If there is no justice then its a failure.

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talha

Jul 13, 2014 09:49pm

What Independence Day celebration??? What is their to celebrate - loadshedding, strong economy, strong institutes, poverty, lawlessness. On 14th August, true independence will come to this country and for the first time we will have a real reason to celebrate.

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Anwar Amjad

Jul 13, 2014 10:56pm

Imran Khan should know that everybody is fed up of street politics in Pakistan. Rallies and dharnas are useless activities and only cause destruction of property and inconvenience to the general public. In a country of 190 million people what is the big deal in throwing a few hundred thousand on the streets? It will prove nothing but only derail the democracy

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sohail

Jul 13, 2014 10:56pm

We will celebrate independence day when we get rid of these corrupts for ever.

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Red Dawn

Jul 13, 2014 11:06pm

Is imran khan not the same man who once said on tv that NGO women wearing jeans and t-shirts offend the tribal sensibilities of ghayoor awam of FATA???? Does anybody else remember it, or it is figment of my imagination?

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Norozkhan

Jul 13, 2014 11:07pm

Imran Khan summoned PTI core committee for July 15 to make critical decisions. Imran Khan has reached to a stage where he has to make a smart decision and backing out from the march on Aug 14, will be killer for PTI. PML/N will try to stop Aug 14,march, they will intimidate and bribe P.T.I leaders and they also don't want to see P.T.I and P.A.T in one camp. I think it is time to do or die for Imran Khan, he must make an alliance with Dr Qadri to survive. Imran Khan needs powerful ally and partner to encounter PML/N, PPP and AMP, Dr.Qadri (PAT) will be the most logical choice.

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W.Shaikh

Jul 13, 2014 11:13pm

Why IK is urging government of Pakistan to allow International NGOS to help IDPS? IS KP government incapable of managing the situation?

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W.Shaikh

Jul 13, 2014 11:15pm

@Arif Shah Mahmud Quersishi, Khurshid Qasuri, Sheikh Rashid, Javed Hashmi, Azam Swati are a few of them. Keep counting.

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Red Dawn

Jul 13, 2014 11:15pm

@Nuur Hassan: Its not proved yet, bro. I thought that was the whole point of this train/million/long/whatever march. As for corrupt government, my dear friend, would you please provide a proof/link or saying so is sufficient? Now the "Armchiar critic" rhetoric, here's a practical advise, why dont you million people work pro bono for a day and give it to IDP's or this is not practical enough?

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Pakistani

Jul 13, 2014 11:17pm

@Arif FOR GOD SAKE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

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Red Dawn

Jul 13, 2014 11:18pm

Yeah, yeah, yeah, have heard it all before. Actually hearing it continually since last year and a half!

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Khwaja

Jul 13, 2014 11:22pm

@Lucky Star And you will sit back in your chair? squarely on IK? When will you ever hold your government responsible for something? Are they angels? that they cannot be held responsible for anything?

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Khwaja

Jul 13, 2014 11:24pm

@ejaz ahmed Please list here the amount of trees you've planted in your entire lifetime. Imran Khan has done a lot, is doing a lot even when he wasn't a political figure. Arm Chair... truly!

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Pakistani

Jul 13, 2014 11:26pm

@talha YES just within one one year KPK is now fully developed province just like you are living in Paris, NewYork, London etc etc - and rest of the country is looking at KPK with desperation...

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m.zafar iqbal

Jul 13, 2014 11:29pm

in this way only anarchy can be spreaded rather to celiberate naya pakistan .before naya pakistan you should must had build naya KPK. but except mere lip service nothing has done concrete. dont make masses fool and the government complete their tenure and then make u ready to contest new election. zafar

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tnemeganam

Jul 13, 2014 11:29pm

Please be aware of the Gullu Butts during the rally.

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Nadeem

Jul 13, 2014 11:30pm

IK & and his supporters are another problem for paksitan - like taliban. Both do not believe in any institute.

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Raza

Jul 13, 2014 11:30pm

Waiting for 14th August..

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Nadeem

Jul 13, 2014 11:30pm

IK want clash and few people will dye and he is hoping he will become PM.

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pathanoo

Jul 13, 2014 11:56pm

I don't doubt for a moment that there was some amount of vote rigging in the May, 2013 election. But, that in itself did not change the results. It probably affected the margins of victory or loss. Nothing more. To continue to harp on it and give up every other thing that Mr. Imran Khan was elected to do is sad. It is very clear now that he is an empty suit, devoid of any ideas for the true welfare of the masses. He is more interested in the stunts that keep him in the news. Stunts that stroke his monumental ego. That is sad as a lot of people in Pakistan, including me, had hopes that he will contribute to increased fair play, rule of law, reducing unemployment, increasing spread of education (not the Madarsa type), protecting the minority, reducing sectarian tension and redcucing corruption. So far, he is 100%.......he has NOT done any of these.

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shuaib

Jul 14, 2014 01:00am

@ talha' what is there to celebrate ? Ask a Palestinian.

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Humdard

Jul 14, 2014 01:05am

If PMLN is true democratic party they should announce the recounting of 4 zone prior to 14 August. It is clear that election was rigged. Now this Khuwaja guy like all other PMLN non qualified MNA looking for scapegoat on the name of celebration. How can you even think of celebrating when you know election was stolen. PTI should continue with long march and ignore all the distraction of fear and coward tactics PMLN and their chamcha are using to create chaos

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Jul 14, 2014 01:35am

@pathanoo Do you say 75 thousand unregistered votes in given polling stations are margins of errors.. this government is prone to making frequent statistical errors sometime it is a typo and sometimes genuine mistakes.

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DisparateAamer

Jul 14, 2014 02:47am

Latest news from electric wires and gas pipes, in the form of increased load shedding, tell that Musharaf will breath easy and so will Nawaz. Masters of the burgers will tell them to take it easy for now and padri will be packing soon. So chill out if you have ac and a power generator to run it:)

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Lucky Star

Jul 14, 2014 03:15am

@Arif I doubt it. PTI has shown poor sportsman spirit since the last election.

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Irfan Khan

Jul 14, 2014 03:25am

I am afraid that PMLN will take PTI till Aug. 12 and then will accept their demand. This will take out all the steam from PTI. Then what course IK will adopt?

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Aik_Paki

Jul 14, 2014 03:25am

@Lucky Star It is the Government in office who should ensure the safety of all the citizens of Pakistan even including IK, Qadri or Sharifs, wheher they are protesting.

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NINO(USA)

Jul 14, 2014 03:27am

@pathanoo Very appropriate analysis. Every patriot thinks that way. All this agitation is being carried out to conceal his failure to honour any of his promises. Having said that Imran Is not known as CMLA for nothing---CANCEL MY LAST ANNOUNCEMENT. There may never be a march! Kn

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NINO(USA)

Jul 14, 2014 03:30am

@SK You are backing a wrong horse; he is now lame.

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Aik_Paki

Jul 14, 2014 03:31am

@Anwar Amjad It is not the same every body you are looking for, every Paki is suffering from mehengai, load shedding and corruption of Sharif's and Co. Everyone is fed up from the Sharif's style of Governing and rigging every thing not just elections such as PCB, Nadra, Juduciary, PEMRA, NEPRA and so on.

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Aik_Paki

Jul 14, 2014 03:36am

@Nadeem Which institutes are you talking about. Sharif's has not spare a single one including, PCB, PEMRA, NADRA, Judiciary, PIA, Punjab Police, etc. Sharif's are will eat up army when they put army to protect their wealth and family using 245. Wait for your turn and they can also eat you up :)

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Gul

Jul 14, 2014 04:11am

Can't Pakistani Politicians come up with some original Ideas. The Long March was done by Chairman Mao Ze Dong and his communists well over 60 years ago, and they weren't protesting anything, they were fighting for survival and eventual victory.

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Hameed

Jul 14, 2014 04:16am

The only leader have a charm to amount a slogan against the rigging in may general election. Since pakistan came into being , the rigging in general election is a routine and all time the establishment have influenced over there . We have to get rid of the situation and now we have to become mature nation as well politically conscious. Some dear colleagues comments about celebrations of independence day , I advise them that can we deserve for these celebrations in the absence of basic human rights which are available in the advanced countries??????

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Abdullah

Jul 14, 2014 05:03am

I expected Imran to be a sensible leader. A leader we could follow and a leader that could give us results. I see him no different than all other politicians who want their workers on the street shouting and protesting rather make a difference in the lives of average Pakistanis I was staunch supporter and I have been on the streets for him. I have been canvassing for him for last 8 years. However I am disappointed. He is not the leader that Pakistan needs. He will not deliver !

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Imran Khalid Virk

Jul 14, 2014 06:25am

Dear PTI, electoral reforms is not the core issue at hand. If long march is taken out to protest against load shedding it will be a super hit film and overwhelming response is guarranted even from those who did not vote PTI in 2013 elections. Please think on these lines if gaining political mileage is the objective; I'm sure it is. Long march for the sake of 4 nos of NA seats is not going to ease the pain and sufferings of 190 million population.

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Naeem Qureshi

Jul 14, 2014 07:47am

IK do something positive. Improve governance in KP and make it a shining example of improvement in education , rule of law and health care. Make an improvement in the life of the people. Convey your vision and action plan for the future. Shun long march and other useless activities. We had a lot of faith and hope in you. You are disappointing us

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FJ Siddiqui

Jul 14, 2014 08:16am

@Red Dawn 1. 'When your business is with Romans do as the Romans do'. Practically this is what IK might be referring to, only to help these NGOs keep doing good work unhindered. When western women officials visit other countries they respect the culture of the visiting country. What's wrong in it, if looked through an unbiased spectacles. 2. What is more important right now: Freedom of expression through attire or stopping corruption, illiteracy, cronyism? If true democracy gets established opinion of the majority will rule instead of any clergy or a person. Lets go there step by step. If IK is trying to take us there despite all his flaws lets achieve this first. Regards

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N. Rahim

Jul 14, 2014 08:24am

@W.Shaikh Do you understand the gravity of the situation? Can the federal government handle it themselves?

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FJ Siddiqui

Jul 14, 2014 08:27am

@pathanoo I wouldn't accept that anyone reduce my 1 mark in exam by corruption or mistake. Do you? I would like him to be punished or warned accordingly. How come we get complacent in this national level dishonesty or incompetency? Regards

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Humdard

Jul 14, 2014 09:47am

@Naeem Qureshi Mr qureshi we are telling Mr Khan to go in after 1 AM and start destroying public property and order to open fire on innocent women, men and kids like Lahore government has done. Stay tune. you will be the 1st to know if PTI do follow corrupt leaders then again you will not see in this life, No wonder corruption has not gone out of Pakistan and I am afraid it won't until mind like you exist

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Mustafa

Jul 14, 2014 11:57am

@Lucky Star "It will be wise to change the date of long March, because if there are casualties as a result of blasts by Talabans or Gullo butts, the responsibility will be squarely on IK only." What do we accomplish by changing the dates??, Are the Taliban or Gullu Butts on vacation on certain dates?

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Mustafa

Jul 14, 2014 12:04pm

The deep-state of the status quo is out in full force on this blog. Trying to bring up all the issues to cause confusion. The corruption establishment is the mother of all our ills. PTI Zindabad, Imran Khan Zindabad.

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ghuman

Jul 14, 2014 05:03pm

@Nadeem and people you believe in have been part of system for last 30 years.what did they achieve. Check pakistan past, they took pakistan back word not ahead.only nawaz shrif family prospered not pakistan.

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