The PTI is once again all set to display its political strength at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. This would be its sixth public gathering at the same venue, which has a key political significance attached to it for the party because a large public gathering at this very place in 2011 marked a new beginning for it.
As PTI faces new challenges let’s look back at its five earlier rallies held at Minar-e-Pakistan.
The first grand gathering of the PTI on October 30, 2011 drew more than 20,000 people, according to moderate estimates. The gathering was so massive that it shook the rivals.
Khan invited PMLN’s Javed Hashmi to join his party, which happened two months later in December 2011. Hashmi’s switch to PTI came was a huge moral booster for PTI.
At this gathering, Imran Khan highlighted the biggest problem in Pakistan which he said is corruption. He said his party will strive to eradicate corruption and install honest officers in key positions.
He also highlighted the issues including the electricity crisis and the declaration of assets of politicians. He said Pakistan became a beggar state because of corruption and bad governance despite the country being full of natural and mineral resources. He said the military will never attack its people and we will talk with tribals.
PTI once again manage to draw a decent crowd on March 23, 2013, in which Khan spoke to tens of thousands of his supporters and vowed to be truthful and loyal to them after assuming power.
He assured people that his political struggle was only for Pakistanis. He rule out negotiations with Fazlur Rehman and Nawaz Sharif.
He also declared the six promises that he was to fulfil after coming into power.He will
In PTI’s third gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan on September 28, 2014, Khan demanded Nawaz Sharif’s resignation till a probe into election rigging charges is completed.
He said that a case had been initiated against Prime Minister and that Nawaz Sharif was a liar who hid a deal he had struck with General Pervez Musharraf but was later exposed by the Saudis.
The PTI Chief lashed out at the election commission’s staff behaviour including returning officers who issued hand-written poll results without actual counting the vote.
The gathering marked the first Azaadi (liberation) movement of Khan, which soon took the form of a 126 days sit-in in Islamabad in 2014.
PTI’s fourth Minar-e-Pakistan rally was held on April 28, 2018, shortly before the July 2018 general elections.
Khan announced that he will raise Rs8,000 billion through strong institutional reforms every year.
Khan said he would announce an agricultural emergency and take action against Sugar Mill Mafia. After coming into power he would massively cut taxes on electricity.
He said his government would construct five million houses for poor people.
He would strengthen the federation so deprivation of smaller provinces could be ended.
He announced that his government would declare ’South Punjab a province“ with a population of around 110 million people.
Women police stations would be set up and women would be given the right of inheritance through strong legislation and implementation
Police would be apolitical so that they check crime without taking any political pressure.
He would promote tourism and a better environment.
Also present on the stage, Awami Muslim League president Sheikh Rasheed announced his support for the PTI.
In his fifth gathering on April 21, 2022 after his ouster, Imran Khan told his followers to wait for his call as he said Pakistanis could not accept an “imported government”.
He attacked Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, accusing him of anti-PTI bias.
Khan defended himself in the Toshakhana scandal and said everything he bought is on record. He clarified that the proceeds from the sale of gifts he retained were used for road repairs.
Khan also urged the judiciary to protect officers in charge of pursuing corruption cases.
He also accuses the PDM government of blocking the roads and disrupting the internet.
