ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has vowed to hold a “historic” rally in Islamabad on Saturday, today, against excessive power cuts and a record increase in fuel prices in the South Asian nation.
Khan, who blames his ouster on the United States, on May 25 led an anti-government march on Islamabad, which saw clashes between demonstrators and police as well as arrests of hundreds of Khan supporters across the country during the day-long political drama.
After entering Islamabad, Khan had called off the march and gave the government a six-day ultimatum to dissolve assemblies and announce fresh elections. But the government rejected his demands.
Khan said late Friday his party would hold a “historic” rally at the Parade Ground in Islamabad against the “imported” government of PM Shehbaz Sharif.
“God willing, tomorrow will be our historic Islamabad jalsa at Parade Ground against imported government’s political destabilization and crushing our people under the burden of excessive load-shedding in peak of summer and spiraling fuel prices,” he said in a tweet on Friday night.
“I will be leading a rally from Pindi to Parade Ground.”
Khan was removed from office in a vote of no-confidence on April 10, after he lost majority in parliament. He has since held several public rallies across the country, saying his ouster was part of a Washington-backed “foreign conspiracy” and refusing to recognize the new administration of PM Sharif. The US has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Khan has also requested Pakistanis to donate generously for his party’s political struggle.
“I request all Pakistanis living in Pakistan and across the world to donate and support PTI’s (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) fight for true freedom,” he said on Twitter.
“This is a struggle for a sovereign Pakistan,” Khan said, urging people to play their part in this “Jehad.”
