Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), offered the incumbent administration an ultimatum on Thursday: declare elections within six days or the “entire nation” will return to the capital.
The outgoing premier said in an impassioned speech that he was giving the coalition government enough time to organize national elections in June.
“It is my duty to unite the nation,” Imran expressed his gratitude for the nation’s unity in the face of the “imported government.”
“You have not come to run the country,” the PTI leader said, accusing the government of coming to power to dismiss corruption allegations against itself.
The PTI head argued that his “peaceful protests” could not be lawfully hampered by the federal government, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision. Imran, now in a position of authority, declared that he would rally two million people in the federal capital to support his cause.
On Wednesday, the former prime minister and other party leaders arrived in Islamabad as PTI workers and supporters pushed through containers and braved tear gas bombardment on their approach to the federal capital.
After the chairman’s caravan arrived in Islamabad and proceeded to the famed D-Chowk, the federal government called in the Pakistan Army to ensure the security of the capital’s Red Zone.
The decision was made to safeguard vital government structures such as the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, the Presidency, and the Prime Minister’s Office, among others.
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