Imran Khan slams Shehbaz-led govt for blocking telethon

Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has lashed out at the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led government for what he called blocking his yesternight telethon for flood-hit people, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Monday.

In a series of tweets and a meeting, the former premier said the coalition government ‘stooped down to new levels of low by mounting pressure on the media houses to ‘black out the PTI  fundraising campaign for flood-hit people.

As the channels continued to do so, the government allegedly hurled threats to cable operators airing the event.

Imran Khan said the government “stooped to new levels of low” when they tried to blackout his second telethon.

 “We know that your criminal followers and their patrons are afraid of the popularity of Tehreek-e-Insaaf. If you are not responsible for usurping our constitutional rights and deviating from international commitments regarding freedom of expression and press, then it is your responsibility to tell the nation who is responsible for all this” he tweeted.

شہباز شریف سےمیرا سوال: کیا تحریک انصاف کے خوف کی وجہ سےمیڈیاپر ہماری زباں بندی, اہلِ صحافت پر تشدد اورانکےخلاف جھوٹےمقدموں کے اندراج، ٹی وی اور یوٹیوب پر مجھےاورتحریک انصاف کو بلیک آؤٹ کرنےاورمیری فلڈریلیف ٹیلی تھون کی نشریات روکنےجیسی مذموم کوشش کے آپ ذمہ دار ہیں؟

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 12, 2022

The PTI senior leadership met with the party chief, Imran khan, in the chair and reiterated the resolve to continue the flood relief campaign.

The recovery of the devastated economy and the case of the worst media censorship in the country also came under discussion during the meeting.

The PTI leadership decided to prepare a comprehensive action plan to cope with the financial challenges confronting the county.  

The meeting strongly condemned the media blackout of the telethon and planned to raise voices against gaging media and violating the fundamental right of the freedom of expression

Union Secretary General Asad Umar briefed the meeting on Pakistan's debt burden, saying the country has to repay loans of around 30 billion dollars, while the loan received from the IMF is only 2 billion dollars.

Pakistan's bond market has been completely destroyed due to political instability, Asad said, adding

In a few months, the situation will worsen, the meeting was told.

The PTI chief asked his party personnel to devise a comprehensive strategy for economic revival

He urged Shaukat Tareen to form a group to develop alternative strategies for the purpose.

"Tehreek-e-Insaf should immediately prepare its alternative economic plan. It is necessary to put your proposals before the nation for a strong economy, he maintained

Coming down hard on the government for attempting to block the telethon, he said: "The blackout of the telethon organized for the flood victims is shameful. The silencing of the media in such a shameful way is intolerable. PTI will raise the issue of media censorship at all levels including the public.”