‘Leave PTI if can’t attend Nov 24 protest,’ Imran tells party leaders

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s founder Imran Khan on Tuesday told party leaders and ticket holders to leave PTI if they are unable to join the ‘final call’ protest he has called for on November 24.

In a statement, posted to his official X account, Imran Khan said his call is not just for people associated with party, but for the entire nation to “come out on November 24 with the same passion that you demonstrated on February 8, when you came out, despite all the challenges, to prove the power of your vote.”

Declaring it a golden opportunity to get ‘real freedom’, Khan said if any PTI leader or ticket holder is not able to ensure their participation in the protest, they should leave PTI “because this is the decisive moment when the entire nation will come out for freedom. The nation will not accept any excuse at such a critical time”.

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Imran Khan issued this ‘final call’ on November 13, urging his supporters to hold a nationwide protest on November 24 against the ruling government, which, he believes, stole the mandate of the people, unjustly imprisoned citizens, and passed the 26th amendment to strengthen its ‘dictatorial regime.’

Before Khan’s statement, his sister, after meeting him in Adiala Jail, said during a press talk that Imran Khan’s ‘final call’ for the protest was for everyone, including PTI ticket holders, members of parliament, and the party’s workers and supporters.

The jailed leader went on to say in his X post that the “foundational pillars of democracy – rule of law, fair and transparent elections, and freedom of expression – are suspended in our country.”

He accused the media in Pakistan of operating “under severe restrictions” and not being able to broadcast his statements. He also decried the slow internet performance, accusing authorities of taking “heinous steps to somehow crush PTI and suppress our voice.”

The statement also presented some figures, without citing any references, claiming that “repeated disruption of the internet to suppress the voice of the people has cost the country 550 billion rupees this year.”

The ex-PTI chief also lamented the “series of enforced disappearances, brutality, and violence against PTI workers”, saying that “these incidents are bringing our national security institutions into disrepute.”

The ex-prime minister also repeated the narrative of “external involvement” in his ouster from the government while announcing that PTI is “ready for every challenge and difficulty”.

Regarding negotiations with the current and interim government, Imran Khan said: “I have always been ready for negotiations for the sake of our country…The responsibility for negotiations not taking place lies with them, not us.”