The former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan warned that his party would take to the streets to establish the rule of law if the Supreme Court’s order on holding polls in Punjab province on May 14 was violated.
The former premier made the announcement while addressing the party workers and supporters at Laxmi Chowk Lahore, who participated in the Lahore rally held in a show of support and solidarity with the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial.
He said that his party would hold public gatherings from Monday (May 8) to Sunday, May (May 14) – the date the Supreme Court (SC) announced for the holding of elections in Punjab.
He also warned the ruling coalition that if they defer elections in Punjab till after the federal budget, they will resort to the street until “the Constitution and the rule of law are restored”.
A large number of workers and supporters of PTI gathered the Chowk to express solidarity with the Chief Justice of Pakistan at the call and back of Imran Khan. PTI Chairman led the march of thousands of his supporters from Zaman Park to Laxmi Chowk.
In his recent social media message, the former premier called on people to join them today at 5.30 pm to show their solidarity with our Constitution and the Chief Justice. The ousted premier said it was high time to fight for ‘our country, to demand our rights, and to stand up for the Constitution’.
Commenting on the FM Indian tour, he said that Pakistan is being humiliated all over the world, Bilawal Bhutto went to India and brought disgrace to Pakistan.
Khan also criticized the remarks made by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who called Bilawal "a promoter, justifier, and spokesperson of a terrorism industry.
"It is the entire nation's decision to stand with the Constitution and [against] the way this mafia is putting pressure on and doing propaganda against the chief justice and [other] judges," Khan said while referring to the incumbent coalition government.
"When a country's Constitution is violated, it means the justice system and the rule of law have ended. Most of all, it means that the nation has lost its freedom and become slaves.
"We will not rest till elections are held and Pakistan is free," he stressed.