August 22 rally postponed at the request of establishment: Imran Khan

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has admitted that the planned August 22 public rally in Islamabad was postponed at the request of the (military) establishment.

In an informal caht with journalists in Adiala jail, Imran Khan said that PTI leader Azam Swati showed up at 7 am and conveyed the establishment’s request to postpone the rally “for the sake of the country”, as they feared anarchy could occur if they (PTI) went ahead with holding the public rally.

He further disclosed that the establishment had guaranteed to facilitate the September 8 rally. He said that he agreed to postpone the rally for the sake of Pakistan.

In response to a question about seeking relief from his cases, Imran Khan said, “If I wanted relief, I would have fled the country. I was told to remain silent for three years and that nothing would happen — the cases would be terminated.

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He said that NAB amendments have been restored, and I am seeking relief through legal means.”

Imran Khan said that a countrywide movement would be staged if Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was given extension and “thrust upon us”. He called Chief Justice Qazi Faez “the most biased judge in the history of Pakistan.”

It should be noted that on the morning of August 22, Azam Khan Swati met with Imran Khan in Adiala jail after which the PTI cancelled the scheduled rally in Islamabad. PTI leaders had stated that the decision was taken by Imran Khan himself.

After the meeting, PTI leaders Babar Awan, Azam Swati and Barrister Gohar briefed the media, stating that Imran Khan had shared concerns about religious parties gathering in Islamabad’s Red Zone.”

Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan had reacted strongly to the cancellation of the rally, questioning the circumstances of Azam Swati’s early morning visit to Imran Khan in Adiala jail.

She inquired, “On whose request did Azam Swati meet Imran Khan at 7:30 am, and under whose orders was the meeting postponed?”

Aleema Khan had suggested that the rally was cancelled at the behest of the establishment.