ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri called off his dharna after 69 days, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan announced on Tuesday to continue his party’s sit-in till the resignation of the prime minister.

Addressing the participants of the sit-in, he said: “I will not leave this container until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns and an independent investigation into rigging in the 2013 elections is held.”

He said the system would not change if those involved in the rigging were not held accountable and dealt with in accordance with the law. Electoral reforms would be useless without accountability of rigging in the last elections.

“A government was formed as a result of rigged elections in violation of the constitution while we are still being denied justice,” Mr Khan lamented.

He said the PTI would move the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of Pakistan for its failure to upload Form 14 (result sheet at a polling station) and Form 15 on its website.

Addressing National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, he said: “How long will you delay recounting of votes in your constituency? I will not leave this place until the audit of votes starts.”

Mr Sadiq had defeated Mr Khan in a Lahore constituency in the last year’s elections.

“What is this drama that you are not accepting our resignations? You should accept the resignations because we do not recognise you and your assembly,” he said.

The PTI chief asked the government to reduce prices of diesel and petrol by Rs15 per litre in line with the decline in oil prices in the international market.

He said the prices of petroleum products determined the prices of other commodities and people should be aware of this. “This is an additional tax which the government is imposing on the people.”

Mr Khan asked the people of Islamabad to get ready for a protest demonstration in front of the head offices of Pemra against its decision to suspend the license of ARY News channel.

“The rulers have dented democracy by banning the channel.”

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014