LAHORE - Imran Khan is likely to announce a phase-wise protest drive today instead of marching on Raiwind to press the ruling family for his demands to form the Panama leaks commission.
“The party chairman is expected to announce a phase-wise protest campaign in favour of its demands regarding the formation of a commission on the Panama leaks. The protest can be launched from districts followed by divisions, regions, provinces and the Centre, but no march on Raiwind is on the cards,” said the party leaders, talking to The Nation yesterday.
Marching on Raiwind which houses the palaces of the ruling family would not be decided without involving other opposition parties. The party leadership is not in the mood of any adventure and would not take any decision in haste, they added.
When asked if Khan sometimes makes announcements following the mood of the crowd, they said, “The party chairman on occasions is unpredictable and we cannot say anything about any sudden decision. What we are saying has been decided in the party’s core committee meeting.”
The PTI chief demanded of the government to form a judicial commission under the chair of the chief justice of Pakistan with international auditors, forensic experts and key intelligence and investigating agencies as its members to probe the Panama leaks.
Some PTI leaders told the paper that the party could not launch an organized protest campaign because of dissolution of its offices for fresh intra-party polls.
The mood of PTI activists and success of the party’s foundation day would be the key indicator to trigger the decision to march on Raiwind. The party chairman could divert the strength and enthusiasm of its foundation day celebrations towards a major anti-government campaign.
Chaudhry Sarwar, PTI’s senior leader, said, “We have not taken any decision to stage a sit-in at Raiwind for Panama leaks investigation commission, but protests would be launched.”
Though it seems, PTI will not opt to stage a sit-in at Raiwind, April 24, the foundation day of the party, can spark a “surprise” from a leader who is unpredictable sometimes, according to his party leaders.
The estimates of the two key intelligence agencies, ISI and IB, about the number of expected participants in PTI’s foundation day are approximately 35,000 and 25,000, respectively.
According to an official deputed to oversee the security of the event today, 3,500 to 4,000 chairs have been placed at the venue by the PTI organisers.