Banners regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan’s alleged corruption have emerged in Rawalpindi as the party claims that the government is trying to interfere with its upcoming rally.
PTI received permission from the General Headquarters (GHQ) to hold its rally scheduled for later today (Saturday) in the army’s Parade Ground.
Former interior minister and party leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed claimed that banners with statements against Imran Khan were hung in Rawalpindi prior to the party rally. Similarly, other PTI leaders have also claimed that the government is trying to interfere with their rally.
The banners, which were supposedly put up on Friday night, contain allegations of corruption by Imran Khan and Farah Gogi, who is a close friend of former first lady Bushra Bibi. Some banners on the Rawalpindi Ring Road read, “PTI’s involvement in corruption exposed”, while another said, “Imran Khan’s assets have increased by 250% in five years. The people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad reject Imran Khan.”
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) July 2, 2022
Sheikh Rasheed posted a video statement on his Twitter account in which he claimed that at some point last night, the government removed all the banners that the PTI had put up in preparation for its rally. “That is not all, they also replaced our banners with poster and banners saying vile, reprehensible and untrue things,” he said.
Rashid added that party workers managed to capture three people involved in the act, who were later taken to the Sadqabad police station. “They have called thugs to interfere with the protest. In my 25 years of politics in Rawalpindi, I have never seen such behaviour,” he added.
Similarly, PTI leader Asad Umar also accused the government of trying to delay the rally preparations by not permitting usage of the ground until the last minute.
ان کی پوری کوشش تھی کے اجازت میں 4 دن تاخیر کر کے جلسہ خراب کیا جائے. لیکن کل شام 3 بجے جلسہ گاہ ملنے کے بعد ٹیم نے ساری رات کام کر کے جلسے کی تیاریاں مکمل کر لی- آج دنیا دیکھے گی کے قوم عمران خان کے ساتھ امپورٹڈ حکومت کے خلاف کھڑی ہے. #پریڈ_گراؤنڈ_جلسہ
pic.twitter.com/Gl57VR3Qz1— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 2, 2022
Another PTI leader, Ali Haider Zahid said that the Sindh government was creating obstacles in the preparations for the screening of Khan’s speech.
I’m on my way to SeaView as our stage/screen has to be set but as usual Sindh Govt creating hurdles by sending police to delay the setup!
We had already informed DHA,Comm KHI,IGP & others in writing that we will be screening @ImranKhanPTI speech & will leave peacefully once done! pic.twitter.com/FC5fKxi9Wx— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) July 2, 2022
