Omer Shahzad, Businessman from Rawalpindi

“I believe that the demand for resignation of the prime minister is a pressure tactic. During negotiations with the government, the PTI leadership will demand dissolution of the Election Commission and punishment for those responsible for rigging in the 2013 elections, especially the returning officers. The government should address PTI’s grievances regarding elections because it is the only way how the situation can be defused. Everyone knows that issues confronting the country cannot be tackled in a year but the government should take steps in the right direction. At the moment, Imran Khan’s position is also at stake so he will not call off the sit-in without securing an honourable patch-up. Luckily, the PTI workers have the stamina and can continue the sit-in for weeks. Therefore the PTI chief is not in a hurry for a patch-up with the government.”

Ali Gul Khan, Coal dealer from Harnai, Balochistan

The educated workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) at the ‘Azadi’ sit-in seemed realistic and believed that a patch-up can be made after getting an assurance from the government that the next general elections would be free and fair.However, the less educated workers of the party were not ready for less than resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and then re-elections in the country.

“From Balochistan I came to Lahore and then reached here along with Imran Khan. I will not accept anything less than re-elections because the 2013 general elections were rigged and Nawaz Sharif has no right to remain the prime minister. I want to see Imran Khan as the prime minister, and if he (Mr Khan) fails to fulfill his promises after coming to power, we will even protest against him. The PML-N government and the government of Balochistan have failed to deliver. The PTI should now get a chance to form government. I will not go back unless the present government is toppled.”

Mohammad Naeem, Businessman from Karachi

“I came to Islamabad on August 11 and have been staying at a hotel in Aabpara. I have sacrificed my business and am sitting in Islamabad to change the government. Nawaz Sharif’s resignation is what I want, and free and fair elections should be held. Let the people decide whether they want Imran Khan or Nawaz Sharif. I will stay in Islamabad as long as possible. I know that Imran Khan is a man of principles and will never change his statements. If Imran Khan agrees on anything less than re-elections, it would be the end of his (Khan’s) politics.”

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2014