BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday ruled out any deal with the government over the party’s planned march on the capital on the Independence Day.

Talking to reporters during a visit to the IDP camp here, Imran Khan said: “The time for talks is over. We waited 14 months and tried all legal options.” The issue of verification of votes in four constituencies was also taken up in parliament but the PTI got no relief, he added.

“We had requested for the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the issue but that demand was also ignored. Now the decision will be made on August 14,” he said.

Earlier, after distributing Eid gifts among the displaced children, Imran Khan urged the federal government to focus on the rehabilitation of IDPs. He said rehabilitation of IDPs would be the most difficult task after the military operation.

PTI chief visits IDP camp in Bannu

The PTI chairman said he had fulfilled his commitment to celebrating Eid with the displaced people.

He alleged that the federal government had not made any feasible plan for the rehabilitation of displaced families.

He said the provincial government despite having limited resources was extending all possible support to IDPs and their basic needs were being fulfilled.

He expressed concern over the plight of displaced children and said around 400,000 children had been affected by the militancy. A large number of students are deprived of their right to education. “We will not leave these children in the lurch and would not let their future to be ruined,” he added.

Sources said that people had been waiting for Imran Khan since morning but he reached there late.

Nisar Ali Khan, president of the affectees rehabilitation committee, and other IDPs expressed resentment over the officials’ attitude who, according to them, did not allow displaced people to interact with the PTI chairman.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2014