Khan made the surprise political manoeuvre while speaking to tens of thousands of followers of his opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s garrison city.
ISLAMABAD: At the end of his long march, Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan announced on Saturday that his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party will withdraw from all provincial assemblies, increasing pressure on the government to call snap elections.
He stated that a meeting of top party officials will be held shortly to determine a schedule for all PTI legislators to quit en masse from regional legislative assembly.
In his first public appearance since being shot and injured in the leg at a rally in Wazirabad, Pakistan Punjab, three weeks ago, the PTI chairman declared: “We will not march towards Islamabad because I do not want to spread disorder and anarchy in the nation.” However, we have chosen to leave this system. We have resolved to resign from all assemblies and leave this fraudulent system.”
Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are all governed by the Khan-led PTI.
Khan stated that he has addressed the issue of stepping down from all legislatures with all chief ministers, and that the final decision will be revealed following the PTI’s parliamentary party meeting.
Imran stated that his party came to Rawalpindi not for elections or politics, but because the country needs a new election.
Khan said that “three criminals” were plotting another assassination attempt on his life. The previous Prime Minister has accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and ISI Maj Gen Faisal Naseer of orchestrating the assault in Wazirabad. “Fear turns a whole nation into slaves.” “You should not be intimidated by threats or violence,” he said from behind a bulletproof glass shield to his supporters.
Khan stated that he had failed to put the powerful under the law during his stint as PM, claiming that they were shielded by powerful quarters, a reference to the military establishment.
Imran stated that history will show that he fought to the last ball for Pakistan. “I also want to emphasise that those who witnessed a great increase in their riches and crushed the nation’s rights… history is also looking towards him and writing down what he did with the country.”
Khan’s lengthy march had begun on October 28 in Lahore but had been halted following the attack on him. He had been addressing supporters daily via video links in the days leading up to the Rawalpindi rally.