MUZAFFARABAD: Praising Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) move to hold a gathering in Parade Ground in Islamabad on April 6, Khawaja Atif Bashir, head of ‘Free Imran Khan Committee’ in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) claimed on Tuesday that the event would mark a historic moment for the country.

“The sea of people will play a key role not only in securing the release of Pakistan’s undisputed leader, Imran Khan but also in serving as a referendum against the recent electoral malpractice,” he said in a meeting of PTI workers here.

Anticipating the participation of a significant number of people from AJK, Mr Bashir vowed that his committee would make all possible efforts to facilitate the Kashmiri aficionados of PTI activities in all possible ways.

Underscoring the importance of the public meeting, he said it was a right and timely decision to send a loud and clear message across the globe that notwithstanding unrelenting coercive measures by the state the PTI remained the most popular political party of Pakistan.

Mr Bashir asserted that since the PTI believed in the people’s power, it would achieve its aims and objective through the same power, rather than any “unholy deals.”

“Eventually, the people of Pakistan will emerge triumphant in the struggle for the establishment of their right to form a government of their choice,” he said.

Alluding to the resilience of PTI workers, he maintained that time had proved that jail terms, court trials, arrests and punishments had failed to break the resolve of the PTI loyalists, just like that of their formidable leader.

“When the people rise, the artificial powers crumble like the walls of sand.”

Mr Bashir claimed that the incarcerated PTI founding chairman was reflecting the sentiments and aspirations of the entire nation which had always passionately responded to his calls.

“The April 6 public meeting will determine a new direction of politics and subsequently culminate in the emergence of a great and real democratic Pakistan,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2024