Aug 14 march: Imran rubbishes speculation of 'deal' with government

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BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday rejected reports of any possible deal with the government over his party's call for a million man march to the capital on August 14.

In response to a question asked by a DawnNews correspondent in Bannu, Imran said there would be no agreement between his party and the government for the Independence Day march.

"The time for talking is over. We have waited 14 months and have exhausted all rules within the law," he said." We raised the issue in Parliament as well, while the Election Commission of Pakistan gave us no relief. We requested for a judicial commission to be formed but that demand was also not met. Now the decision will be taken on August 14."

With reference to the government's move to invoke Article 245 in Islamabad, Imran said, "They should not hide behind the army as it is Pakistan's army and not serving them alone."

In a press conference on Sunday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had hinted that the government might try to pacify Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s return to the country, saying that there is no harm in contacting them and discussing their demands.

Similarly, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid told reporters on Monday that the government is "seriously contemplating" the demands put forth by the PTI chief.

"We want to settle matters with him harmoniously," Pervaiz Rashid added.


Eid with IDPs


The PTI chief visited the Bannu camps for displaced persons from North Waziristan and celebrated the festival of Eid with them.

Imran Khan was welcomed by the tribal Jirga into a sports complex,where he apologised for not being able to pray along with the IDPs.

On the occasion, the PTI chief said that the federal government had abandoned its duty of facilitating the IDPs.

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