Riaz playing Zardari’s game, says Imran

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan sees the allegations against chief justice’s son Dr Arsalan as a conspiracy hatched by President Asif Ali Zardari using his ‘business partner’ Malik Riaz.Addressing the participants of a rally, organised by PTI Islamabad chapter to show solidarity with the chief justice, in the wake of corruption allegations on his family, Imran said that President Zardari had committed the same mistake as was committed by his predecessor, Pervaiz Mushrraf.He predicted dark future for both Zardari and Riaz like dictator Mushrraf, who tried to derail independent judiciary by deposing Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.Hundred of PTI activists participated in the pro-judiciary rally. The rally started its march from the China Chowk that culminated at the D-Chowk, in front of the parliament building, where Imran addressed the gathering. The PTI chief said the aim of rally was to assure the chief justice that the whole nation was standing behind him. “Don’t spare anyone including politicians, generals, media men and even your son, if they are found guilty,“ he gave a message to the CJ. “Pakistan, especially the youth, is ready to challenge the ‘union of corrupts’, which is frightened of the independent judiciary. If the corruption mafia did not follow to the verdicts of the apex court, they should wait for tsunami that is in the offing,” Imran remarked. Imran demand that Malik Riaz should name, on oath, all those politicians, media men and generals who took money from him. “Malik Riaz! You must reveal the names of your beneficiaries in the same way you levelled allegations against the chief justice, as the nation wants to know what price tags such immoral people have.” Refuting the allegations of receiving money from real estate tycoon, PTI chief said Malik Riaz could buy the loyalties of all except the PTI. “Those who say that PTI rallies held in recent past were sponsored by Malik Riaz, they are liars. If it is proved, I will quit politics,“ Imran announced.Though the rally had one-point agenda, that is to show solidarity with the CJ, but Imran also used the occasion to criticise the government for its failure to overcome the power crisis. He called upon his party activists to prepare themselves for launching a massive protest campaign against the worsening electricity problem. “Inefficiency of the government to deal with the issue has led to the current deteriorating situation, where people have been witnessing long hours of loadshedding.”Strongly denouncing the police torture on PTI’s pro-judiciary rally in Karachi, Mr Khan said peaceful demonstration was fundamental right of any person and if it was denied by the government then PTI would march towards the presidency. On the occasion, PTI leaders including Zahid Kazmi, Pirzada Rahat Quddusi, Dr Waseem Shamshad, Raja Rashid Hafiz, Shaheen Akbar Khan and others were also present.

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