Aleema Khan, sister of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, said on Wednesday that Imran had set the date of November 24 for starting the anti-government movement. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, she said that the PTI founder had said this was the time for the nation to decide whether it wanted freedom or to live under a military dictatorship. “Everybody be it a PTI voter, MNA, MPA or people belonging to different professions has to take this decision.” “The situation the country is going through these days makes it obligatory on each and every citizen to come out on the roads for the protection of his or her rights. This is a matter that concerns our future generations. People will have to take to streets for the rule of law, democracy and getting back the mandate stolen from the PTI following the February 8 elections,” Aleema said while quoting her brother.

She further said that the former prime minister was of the view that lawyers too should stand up for the independence of judiciary. Talking to reporters in Rawalpindi, lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said: "Imran Khan says this is the final call for a [anti-government] protest. The PTI founder has stressed that the party's entire leadership will be part of the march." The protest will not only take place in Islamabad, but throughout Pakistan and across the world where Imran's supporters are present, Chaudhry said. The lawyer said that the party founder had also formed a committee for the march and asked not to reveal the names of those who are part of it as Imran fears they'll be arrested.

All party leaders are aware of their responsibilities, the lawyer said, adding that the committee would have the authority to call off the protest — ensuring that no single person calls the shots. There was much disappointment, as previously said by PTI leader Ali Zafar, when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ended the Swabi rally without a date for the protest. This added to the existing frustration of the workers who were part of the Islamabad protest last month, which ended abruptly. The lawyer further added that KP CM Gandpur would also lead a convoy from the province on the PTI founder's directions. Detailing the demands of the protest, Chaudhry said that the party demands the withdrawal of the contentious 26th Constitutional Amendment, "return of PTI's mandate", and release of workers who are in jails without trials.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan