Imran Khan set to announce Final Call of “Do or Die” this month

Islamabad (Sahiwal Updates)

Update: PTI founder Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry has revealed that Imran Khan has given a final call for “Islamabad March” on November 24.

The founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, wants a decisive “Do or Die” final protest call and possibly a sit-in in Islamabad.

Senior party leaders of PTI are trying to persuade Imran Khan to reconsider the final call decision. They believe that announcing such a protest without proper planning and weighing the pros and cons could backfire.

PTI sources told that most senior leaders in the party (including members of parliament and those in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government) do not support a full-scale protest.

Even the fiery leaders fear that an intense protest may not be effective and could harm the party and its objectives.

Nearly all prominent members of the provincial assemblies in PTI oppose the “Do or Die” protest. They believe it will neither help secure Imran Khan’s release nor benefit the party.

Instead, these members warn that such an action may bring additional problems for PTI. They suggest that, firstly, the government will likely not allow such a protest and could respond with state power, as has happened in the past. More party leaders and workers could be arrested, and further cases may be filed against them.

Secondly, even if the government permits PTI to protest freely, the demonstrators or the leaders organizing the protest still cannot free Imran Khan from jail. It is said that the party would need resources similar to those in the 2014 sit-in. Without adequate planning and resources, a sit-in cannot succeed.

The argument is that Imran Khan received relief in various cases and was even acquitted in some. This progress was achieved through a legal battle in the courts.

It is believed that Imran Khan’s release from jail is only possible through legal and constitutional means.

Some PTI leaders abroad (most of whom are in hiding or failed to win in the February 8 elections) are pushing for a “Do or Die” protest. These leaders want an immediate announcement of a protest march towards Islamabad and a sit-in at D-Chowk.

Another opinion in favour of sit-in and final protest call is that the current government is the most unpopular among the people of Pakistan. It even could not handle the protest of Punjab college students. Its handlers in military establishment are facing the same no-confidence situation. Everyone knows what happened on Feb 8 election and what the military establishment did to put PTI out of power. But surprisingly, the people of Pakistan rejected the May 9 stance of military and voted for Imran Khan and his candidates. Imran Khan keeps criticizing Army Chief General Asim Munir in this regard.

When contacted, PTI’s Information Secretary Waqas Shaikh acknowledged that there are two opinions within the party regarding the final protest call. However, he said that when Imran Khan sets a protest date, everyone will act on it, regardless of preparation.

Waqas Shaikh added that it does not matter what the party’s second-tier leadership thinks; despite facing difficulties and legal cases, party workers now genuinely want a decisive “Do or Die” protest date.