PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf provincial secretary general Khalid Masood on Thursday said the federal government was not serious about the establishment of a judicial commission for probe into the 2013 election rigging despite his party’s three months long sit-in in Islamabad and therefore, the people should march on Islamabad on November 30 to ‘recover their stolen mandate’ from the current ‘corrupt’ rulers.

The PTI leader told reporters here at the Peshawar Press Club that his party had brought about a political revolution in the country forcing the people to come onto the streets to seek justice.

He said his party’s protest movement was meant for the protection of the rights of common and neglected people and not for the interests of some people or a single party and therefore, the people had responded to it very positively.

“People from across the country have faith in our mission and ideology. Hundreds and thousands of people are participating in our protest rallies showing the people’s trust in Imran Khan and his policies,” he said.

Leader claims party working for ‘recovery of people’s stolen mandate’

Masood said the federal government was using delaying tactics in the formation of the judicial commission for probe into the 2013 election rigging only because it didn’t want to face the truth.

He said the PTI would continue its struggle for the ‘recovery of people’s stolen mandate’ besides exposing those involved in the election rigging.

The PTI leader said the inclusion of ISI and MI representatives in a judicial commission was not illegal.

He said it was to the credit of the PTI that it had created awareness among the people, especially women, of the ways to bring about the change.

“It’s a completely new trend that women, who make more than half of the population, has stepped out for rights. Its credit goes to the PTI as previously, no political party could do so,” he said.

Masood also criticised the people complaining about ‘dances and songs’ in PTI rallies and insisted there were no songs and dances at the PTI rallies.

“In fact, they’re PTI anthems carrying messages to mobilise for the people of rights,” he said.

The PTI leader said the provincial government had employed its resources to the maximum for the benefit of the people displaced from the adjoining tribal areas, especially North Waziristan Agency, though taking care of displaced persons was the constitutional duty of the federal government.

He said PTI workers participating in Islamabad sit-in didn’t attack any government or state building and that they would ready to prove their innocence against the charge in front of any independent inquiry panel.

Masood said it was the first time in the national history that a party (PTI) was steering a campaign against massive rigging in general elections though it ruled a province.

He said his party wanted the use of biometric system to ensure transparency in elections.

The PTI leader said his party was striving for turning Pakistan into a public welfare state, where the people were treated fairly, respected and dispensed justice without delay and without hassle.

He said the provincial ministers and PTI MPAs had participated in Islamabad sit-in during its early days but they had returned to the province to perform their respective duties.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014