The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would not sabotage the Champions Trophy, party’s secretary general Salman Akram Raja said on Sunday amid the protest scheduled for February 8.

“We have no such intention. Hopefully, such things won’t happen,” he said when asked about concerns from the government that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party would mar the mega event by its protest.

He was on the Aaj News programme Rubaroo. Raja joined the show via video link.

The 50-over tournament would be held in a hybrid model after India refused to visit Pakistan over their government’s refusal. The tournament’s opening match is set to be held on February 19 between Pakistan and New Zealand. The highly anticipated Pakistan-India clash would take place on February 23 at Dubai stadium.

The PTI is scheduled to hold a rally on February 8 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi, with the government requesting to postpone it and maintain law and order.

Raja stated that the party would not reconsider the rally date and assured that it would be peaceful and the party would reach out to “democratic forces” to form a grand alliance. He slammed the government for “taking steps” to affect the judiciary, media and parliament.

He was of the view that the government was insecure as it feared the PTI rallies. “This system will remain unstable,” the PTI secretary general said.

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Raja took exception over the word “hardliner” for PTI President for KP chapter Junaid Akram, saying that it was time for those people to come forward “who can speak the truth” and if someone has any problem with that should leave. “All leadership is united and stands with the PTI and Imran Khan.”

In response to a question over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for a parliamentary committee, he said that it was “not a proposal and a meaningless approach”.

“Let’s admit that 2018, 2013 and elections before that were wrong. Let’s decide. We want to move forward and accept the truth. How long will they attack institutions?”