SUKKUR: The ‘Train March’ organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Sunday ended in Sukkur in the evening with its leaders resolving to continue the intensified struggle for the release of party chief Imran Khan and restoration of PTI’s “stolen mandate”.

Several thousand PTI workers and supporters boarded Awam Express from Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and other railway stations all along its route to join the train march.

Hundreds of others were present at each station to accord the marchers a warm welcome.

In Karachi, dozens of men and women participating in a number of caravans and rallies, taken out in the morning, boarded the train from Landhi station.

Leaders vow to continue intensified struggle till Imran’s release, restoration of ‘stolen mandate’

Speaking to them before the train set off, PTI central leader Barrister Shoaib Shaheen and Sindh chapter President Haleem Adil Shaikh who led the marchers resolved that the countrywide struggle would continue till the goal was achieved.

The other prominent figures on board included PTI Sindh General Secretary Advocate Ali Palh, retired Justice Noor-ul-Haq Qureshi, former MNA Fahim Khan, former MPA Jamal Siddiqui, Barrister Ali Tahir, Dr Masroor Siyal, Haji Nasir Arian, Sarina Adnan (Sindh PTI’s women wing president), Arsalan Khalid, Jansher Junejo, Rizwan Khanzada, Aman Qazi, Zain Kolachi, Wali Magheri and Advocate Danial Megsi.

After touching different stations including Kotri, Hyderabad, Serhari, Tando Adam, Shahdadpur, Daur, Bandhi, Nawabshah, Kot Laloo, Padidan, Mehrabpur, Bhriya, Setharja, Ranipur, Gambat and Khairpur, the train arrived Rohri without any interruption.

Charged PTI workers warmly welcoming the marchers at all these stations raised slogans for the release of Imran Khan and restoration of their party’s public mandate, given in the Feb 8 general elections.

Many of them were carrying banners, inscribed with such slogans, as well as PTI flags and Imran Khan’s portraits.

Shoaib Shaheen and Haleem Shaikh addressed the workers at different stations. Mr Shaheen repeatedly thanked and congratulated PTI’s Sindh chapter for organising the successful train march.

“Our struggle will continue, whether it’s through long march or rallies, until Imran Khan’s release,” he declared. “The way the people of Sindh have welcomed today’s train march proves that they stand with Imran Khan,” he said, and predicted that the people of Sindh would soon succeed in freeing themselves from the clutches of dacoits.

“Imran Khan will be out [of jail] soon and he will ensure Haqeeqi Azadi (real freedom) for the nation. In the unjust system existing in the country, Imran Khan’s leadership is essentially needed for salvation,” he said.

Haleem Sheikh said that the train march was aimed at awakening decision-makers, “who are mistaken to believe that their unlawful, unethical and unconstitutional acts would be accepted by the masses.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024