The ousted Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has launched a full-scale rebellion –asking his Tiger Force or Attack Force to remove all obstacles placed by the government on their way to Islamabad on Wednesday.
“No one can stop our Long March for freedom. Our attack force, comprising all of you, will be responsible to remove all impediments when we begin our march on May 25,” Khan called on his party youth wing on Tuesday, a day before the scheduled march.
The cricketer turned politician, who was ousted from power following a no-confidence vote, warned the government and the military establishment of dire consequences if they try to stop his march. Calling the raids and arrests of his party leaders as illegal, Khan threatened that “the economy is already in a tailspin”. He added: I want to warn the crooks and their handlers that these undemocratic and fascist steps will further exacerbate the economic situation and push the country into a state of anarchy”. He told his supporters they should be ready for a long haul as his march is a “jihad” against the foreign sponsored government.
حکومت صرف پولیس فورس سے آپ کو ڈرا رہی ہے، گھبرائیں نہیں، آپ سب لیڈر ہیں۔ آپ کو باہر آنا ہوگا: عمران خان
تمام بیوروکریسی سے کہتا ہوں کہ ہم آپ کے تمام نام نوٹ کر رہے ہیں، آپ کو کوئی غیر قانونی حکم ماننے کی اجازت نہیں، عمران خان
#حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ
#PakistanUnderFascism pic.twitter.com/PJuLwEoRkB— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 24, 2022
“Our struggle would continue until we get an election date, assemblies are dissolved and the imported government is sent packing”, Khan reiterated.
Earlier, the Pakistani government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had banned Khan from holding a massive, planned rally in Islamabad, and cracked down on his supporters in overnight raids across the country, arresting hundreds. The ban came hours after a policeman was killed during one of the raids, when a supporter of the former premier opened fire after officers entered his home in the city of Lahore on Tuesday.
The Pakistani security agencies stepped up security in Islamabad, deploying additional officers and paramilitary Rangers. Large shipping containers were placed on a key road leading to the parliament building, to prevent Khan’s supporters from getting close and staging a sit-in there.
Defiant Khan has called on his supporters to "leave fear behind" as the government was trying its best to intimidate his party members.
"How many people will they send to jail, do they have that many officials? They can't do it. You don't have to be scared of anything. If someone wants to stop us, do it. But no one can stop this sea of people” Dawn reported Khan as saying.
Khan came to power in 2018 after a rigged election underwritten by the powerful military. However, that backing dwindled by the time the opposition challenged Khan’s majority in parliament.
According to Pakistani analysts, Imran Khan is doing what he can do best. In 2014, he held a sit-in for over four months in Islamabad demanding fresh elections after accusing then-premier Nawaz Sharif of rigging elections. The frustrated and angry Imran Khan has so much grief over. Experts believe Khan is trying to provoke the establishment to step in and ensure an early election.
Also Read: Angry Imran Khan steps up tirade against Army chief Bajwa
