On Saturday former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan announced that the party will hold anti-government rallies across the country.
Addressing a rally at National Hockey Stadium in Lahore, Imran said the party will hold rallies against the “imported” government in Rawalpindi, Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Attock, Abbottabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Jhelum, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Quetta.
He told his supporters that the “fight for real freedom” has entered its decisive phase. “I am going to the people and am readying them for our battle for real freedom which is in its last and most decisive stage.”
Talking about the Toshakhana reference filed against him, Imran Khan said that a plan is being made to disqualify him in the case. “They have made a plan to register new cases and disqualify Imran Khan in Toshakhana and prohibited funding cases,” he said.
Although he said that he wants to have a cordial relationship with the United States, he added that he will never bow down before anyone.
Commenting on Imran Khan’s speech, journalist Mohammad Malick said: “IK [Imran Khan] made his best ever speech today. A perfect 10. It was impactful communication at its best. The emphasis on negating his anti-army impression was convincing. Now let’s see how his political opposition responds.”
IK made his best ever speech today. A perfect 10. It was impactful communication at its best. The emphasis on negating his anti-army impression was convincing. Now let’s see how his political opposition responds.
— Mohammad Malick (@MalickViews) August 13, 2022
A social media user, M Khanani said: “Trust me this is not jalsa only, this is soft revolution.”
Trust Me This Is Not Jalsa Only This Is Soft Revolution 💪#LahoreJalsa #حقیقی_آزادی_جلسہ
pic.twitter.com/eATlVVzrXI— M.Khanani (@mohsinkhanani98) August 13, 2022
My only question is why this criminal is roaming free.
IK seems to be struggling to keep his popularity as his narratives continue to deflate. Dilemma is that to continue the anti establishment narrative he has to stand up for it albeit an all out revolt against Pakistan’s centre of gravity is just not possible given the precarious geographical realities.
He could shake hands with his predecessors who had suffered at the establishment hands but again it would kill his prime narrative that helped him get noticed in the first place.
It’s anyway but lose situation so for now he is just pushing ahead while hoping for a miracle. So it’s another couple of months of drum beating and tantalisation.