Minar-e-Pakistan Jalsa: PTI chief Imran Khan addresses party workers, supporters

LAHORE: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is addressing the party s jalsa at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan on Saturday night, ARY News reported on Saturday.

PTI president Pervaiz Elahi and other party leaders – including Asad Qaisar Pervez Khattak and Qasim Suri – were present on the stage.

Addressing the power show, Imran Khan praised party workers and supporters for reaching the venue despite the hurdles created by the Punjab government .

The PTI chief alleged that his government was overthrown under a conspiracy and gang of criminals were imposed on the country. “A message should be sent today that no one cannot stop the people of Pakistan by force,” he added.

Lambasting the Punjab government for creating hurdles , Imran Khan claimed they over 2,000 PTI workers have been taken and containers were placed to prevent party supporters from reaching the venue.

“The people of Pakistan have borne all kinds of oppression”, the former premier said, adding that a nation cannot progress if it does not resists the oppression . He added that a nation gets real freedom when there is supremacy of rule of law .

“It is unfortunate that in the country s history, our democratic leaders never upheld rule of law,” he said, adding that Constitution and law were abolished during martial law.

The former prime minister also lambasted the government for registering bogus cases against him, saying that they have registered 143 fake cases under several charges – including terrorism and blasphemy.

He also criticised Pakistan People s Party (PPP) over atrocities in interior Sindh, saying that people of interior Sindh were helpless as Zardari Mafia was imposed on them.

Containers placed on routes leading to Minar-e-Pakistan

Meanwhile, the local administration has placed containers on the ways leading to Minar-e-Pakistan, including GT Road, Cup Store and Du Maurya Bridge. The road heading from Data Darbar towards Minar-e-Pakistan has also been closed off from both sides.

Other routes including Minar-e-Pakistan from Lower Mall, Shahdara from Niazi Chowk, Badami Bagh and Purani Sabzi market were also closed by placing containers

The administration has taken the step in a bid to stop PTI workers supporters from other towns and cities in Punjab from reaching the rally venue.

Workers being arrested

Talking to journalists, PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the party workers were being arrested ahead of Minar-e-Pakistan Rally.

“Despite the Lahore High Court orders to hold political gathering, the government has placed containers in different parts of the city to create hurdles for PTI workers,” he noted.

Shah Mehmood further stated that the police was conducting raids and arresting PTI leaders, adding that almost 1800 PTI workers have been arrested so far. Qureshi maintained that holding the rally was our constitutional right.

Will break all records

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan – taking to Twitter – said that called on his supporters in Lahore to attend the jalsa after Taraweeh prayers which he believes will “break all records”.

The former prime minister announced that he will give his vision of “Haqeeqi Azadi” and how to pull the country out of the mess the “cabal of crooks have put our country in”.

They will put all sorts of hurdles to prevent people from attending, but I want to remind our ppl that it is their fundamental right to attend a political gathering. Everyone must assert their right as people of a free nation that won its independence & come to Minar i Pakistan.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 25, 2023

“My heart tells me it will break all records. I am inviting everyone in Lahore to attend after Tarawih prayers. I will give my vision of Haqeeqi Azadi and how we will pull Pakistan out of the mess cabal of crooks have put our country in,” Imran said.

He also expressed concerns that the government may erect obstacles to prevent party supporters from reaching the venue, saying that it was the fundamental right of the people to participate in a political gathering.

“Everyone must assert their right as people of a free nation that won its independence and come to Minar-e-Pakistan,” he told his supporters.

According to PTI s official Twitter account, the rally will begin after Taraveeh prayers at 9pm.