Protest has broken out in multiple cities of Pakistan—Islamabad, Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta etc—after ex-prime minister Imran Khan gave a call to his party Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the Punjab deputy speaker’s choice to re-elect the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, as chief minister of Punjab.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz was re-elected after the votes of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) were rejected by the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker, Dost Muhammad Mazari, who cancelled 10 votes of PML-Q.
Pervaiz Elahi – joint candidate of PTI and PML-Q – received 186 votes, while Hamza Shahbaz got 179 votes. However, 10 votes of PML-Q were cancelled by Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, hence taking the figure to 176.
After the election, PTI’s and PML-Q’s parliamentary parties held a meeting and deliberated on Mazari’s ruling. Later, they reached the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry to submit the petition, reported Geo News.
Meanwhile, Deputy registrar SC Lahore registry Ijaz Goraya also reached the court and received the PTI petition.
While talking to media outside the SC’s Lahore registry building, PTI leader Yasmeen Rashid said that “186 members of Punjab assembly are present here, therefore I request that court is opened immediately.”
The court is yet to set a date to hear the petition.
“A massive protest erupted in Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters took to the streets to demonstrate their frustration against the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling to re-elect Hamza Shehbaz as Punjab chief minister,” tweeted The Express Tribune.
PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan called for protests against the outcomes of the Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shahbaz’s ‘surprising’ victory in Punjab.
Khan also lashed at Asif Zardari, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader, charged with allegations of ‘horse-trading’ ahead of the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) election.
“Asif Zardari, the famous bandit of the country, has been robbing the country for thirty years. Funeral of democracy is taken out by Zardari when he uses the money of people of Sindh to buy souls,” said the former PM.
He was surprised by the happenings in the Punjab Assembly today. “Everyone is now looking to the Supreme Court (SC). Parliament has the power of morality, not the army, democracy is based on morality.”
Khan also talked about the alleged “foreign conspiracy” which led to the downfall of his government
“My government was overthrown by foreign conspiracy and the people came out. We were brutally tortured but our movement continued peacefully and the people came out in the by-elections which was a historic thing,” said Imran Khan.
“I am 72 years old but I go to every meeting, whoever is honest will be with Imran Khan. I am deeply disappointed with what happened today in Punjab. People’s mandate was robbed. These people will eat their mouths,” said an elderly woman who participated in the Shahrah-e-Faisal protest.
“People are protesting at these places all over the country. Get out for the sake of Pakistan!” tweeted PTI.
PTI also slammed Asif Zardari, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Zardari and Sharif should remember one thing: they will never defeat this Zinda Qoum. Lahore has completely rejected them!” tweeted PTI.
The protestors were screaming “Today the conspiracy will not work.”
Protests were also organized in Sargodha, Peshawar and Quetta as well.
“Sargodha rejected those who steal public mandate!” tweeted PTI.
“Massive protest in Peshawar against corrupt mafia!” added PTI Peshawar.
The PTI also thanked people for supporting them. “Shukriya Pakistan, InshAllah we will defeat the mafia once again… remember no one can defeat a zinda qoum!” PTI
The whole country is protesting against the theft of public mandate. Protests are taking place in all the small and big cities of the country.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan Foreign Minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi also lambasted the decision of the Deputy Speaker.
“Absolute farce in Punjab but what can one expect from this corrupt govt who continues to go to any lengths to stay in power, even if it means the people of Pakistan suffer. This ruling is against the Constitution & rejection of people’s voice. We are going to the Supreme Court for justice,” said Qureshi.
