Imran Khan landed in Rawalpindi by helicopter on Saturday, escorted by a team of physicians, to attend a big gathering organised by his party, the first since the former prime minister was injured in an assassination attempt.
Khan, 70, who is recuperating from bullet wounds sustained in a gun assault on November 3, will address his supporters in Rawalpindi to seek new general elections, and has stated that the rally would be “totally nonviolent.”
Khan, the head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, arrived at the Barani University helipad here and will fly to the gathering site.
According to the Dawn newspaper, PTI leader Faisal Javed said Khan arrived in Rawalpindi and will address the party’s supporters shortly.
He made the news while speaking to a gathering in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Police have written to the PTI’s top leadership, urging them to ensure that the directives for VIP security for the former premier are followed, Geo TV reported on Saturday.
Khan has also been advised to wear a bulletproof jacket, not to exit the vehicle on the way to the rally’s location, and to keep his movements secret, according to the letter.
Khan left his Zaman Park home in Lahore at 1 p.m. local time in a bullet-proof car that had been supplied to him.
Meanwhile, convoys of PTI leaders, workers, and fans are making their way to Rawalpindi for the Haqeeqi Azadi march, according to a report in the Express Tribune.
According to PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, the gathering will be “historic.”
Supporters of Khan are travelling from all across the nation to Rawalpindi, Islamabad’s twin sister city, where a stage has been set up on the Sixth Road Flyover in the centre of historic Murree Road.
Some enthusiastic supporters who had already arrived in the city were sheltered in a temporary tent structure built up in the Allama Iqbal Park near the rally site.
PTI Senator Azam Khan Swati stated that the “haqeeqi azadi” campaign was on track to succeed.
Swati added in a video message posted to the PTI’s official Twitter account, “all characters of the regime change will be humiliated by God, and this caravan of the liberation struggle will not stop regardless.”
The Rawalpindi administration issued a statement stating that the England cricket team will be arriving shortly and that the site should be entirely evacuated following the demonstration.
Despite his injury, the former cricketer-turned-politician stated on Friday that he is committed to travel to Rawalpindi for the benefit of the nation.
Khan stated in his statement that he was fighting for the country’s true freedom and that the conflict will continue until new elections were held.
“We are at battle for the Haqeeqi Azadi. Elections are the only thing on the agenda “He stated this as he accused the present administration of wrecking the economy and avoiding elections out of fear of loss.
Separately, he told a news channel that if the quick elections were not called and the government maintained its position that the general election will be held on schedule next October, the people would drive the existing authorities out.
