Re: PTI Jashn-e-Azadi with Imran Khan - *Updates & Live Stream*
Imran proves popularity as thousands join sit-in
Mumtaz Alvi
Sunday, August 14, 2011
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf
(PTI) showed a glimpse of its popularity here on Saturday night near the Parliament House when thousands of its supporters mostly youth attended the Independence Day celebration.
Through out the festivities in the presence of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, groups of the party workers kept pouring in from various parts of Pakistan to mark the historic occasion. The venue echoed with national songs and loud slogans in support of Imran Khan.
The party chairman had named the second sit-in of the holy month of Ramzan as the ‘Jashn-e-Azadi Dharna.’ The cricketer-turned politician managed to demonstrate his ability Saturday night as a crowd-puller at a time when both the mainstream parties i.e. Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are struggling to keep their electoral strength intact, as they faced masses’ wrath, and also divisions in their ranks.
Imran Khan has repeatedly called for active participation of youth in his on-going movement: remove the government to save Pakistan and young persons in their teens and 20s turned up in large numbers at the venue.
PTI had announced to stage sit-ins close to the Parliament House on every Saturday during the month of fasting to build a momentum to send the ‘corrupt and incompetent’ government home.
Imran and key PTI leaders sat on a stage erected close to D-Chowk in front of the President House, which was tastefully decorated along with other buildings in connection with the August 14 celebrations.
Unlike the previous such occasion, party workers were asked to assemble at the venue after doing Iftari and saying Travih prayers and so they did. On last Saturday, PTI had arranged Iftar-dinner for the gathering.
The PTI chairman has said his party is counting on young voters to bring a really meaningful change in the system and do to end the slavery of the United States and the donor agencies. After recitation from the Holy Quran, a short documentary, highlighting Imran Khan’s on the field and off the field achievements, which included winning the World Cup in 1992 and building the multi-billion-rupee cancer hospital in memory of his mother, who died of the deadly ailment many years ago.
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