Ex-Pakistani PM vows to hold ‘historic’ rally in Lahore on March 19

Imran Khan, the former Pakistani prime minister has announced his intention to hold a “historic” rally in the city of Lahore on March 19 as part of his election campaign. 

On Monday, Khan, also the chairman of the country’s opposition party Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), held an election rally near the Sufi shrine of Data Darbar in Lahore.

The rally near the Sufi shrine was held amid security and detention threats, media reported.

The former prime minister said his party had launched an election campaign after having canceled it twice last week. 

“I will hold a jalsa (a public gathering) at (the tower of) Minar-e-Pakistan (in Lahore) on Sunday (March 19) at 2p.m. (09:00 GMT).

“We all have to struggle together,” Khan said during the rally, according to Pakistani broadcaster Geo. 

In January, Khan said he was going to participate in the election and win.

He claimed to be preparing a “radical” plan aimed at strengthening the country’s economy, which, according to his forecasts, would go into an even worse state by the time of the general election.

Khan also said he would further advocate the role of the International Monetary Fund in supporting the Pakistani economy and averting the growing risk of default. 

In April 2022, the Pakistani parliament ousted then-prime minister Khan in a vote of no confidence, with the motion succeeding by a unanimous vote of 174-0.

The country’s lawmakers elected then-opposition, leader Shehbaz Sharif, from the Pakistan Muslim League-N as the new prime minister. 

On the eve of the election, a wave of protests swept the country with thousands of people participating in rallies in support of Khan and the PTI.

The ousted prime minister said his independent foreign policy had irritated foreign powers, including the United States, and they had financed the opposition’s actions which led to a vote of no confidence against him. 

Shortly after the appointment of the new prime minister, Khan demanded that a general election be held immediately, in which a new head of government would be designated.

However, the Pakistani Election Commission announced that it was impossible to hold general elections until May 2023. 

In November, Sharif that general election would be held after August 2023, as the term of the incumbent parliament ends in August 2023.

(NAN)