Ex-PM Khan announces anti-government march to Islamabad on October 28

Pakistan's former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) Imran Khan, speaks during an anti-government protest rally in Islamabad on August 20, 2022. (AFP)

• Khan, who was ousted in a no-trust vote in April, refuses to accept the government of Shehbaz Sharif 
• The former premier has since been holding rallies to pressure government into announcing snap elections 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has announced October 28 as the date for his anti-government long march to Islamabad, saying his party and supporters are fighting for the “country’s future.” 
Khan, who was ousted in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April, has since refused to accept the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and allies. 
The former premier claims his ouster was a result of a United States-backed “foreign policy” for pursuing an independent foreign policy for Pakistan. Washington and Khan’s opponents deny the allegation. 
He has since been holding rallies across the country to pressure the government into announcing snap elections in the South Asian country. 
“I am announcing the long march on Friday,” Khan, who is chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, said at a press conference in Lahore. 
“I am starting from Lahore. We will gather at Liberty [Chowk] at 11 and therefrom our march will begin toward Islamabad.” 
He said he had called off his previous march to Islamabad on May 25 out of fear of a bloodshed in the country. 
The former premier criticized the incumbent government for using force to disperse supporters during the May 25 march, accusing the authorities of forcefully keeping journalists and news channels from covering his protests. 
Khan also spoke of Arshad Sharif, a prominent Pakistani journalist who was shot dead in Kenya Sunday night. He said Sharif had been receiving threats and he had twice advised him to leave the country. 
“I have not seen such a painful example in Pakistan what they have done to Arshad Sharif,” the ex-premier said. 
“He was threatened to change his stance.” 
He said his long march was not part of politics and they were fighting for the “country’s future.” 
“This jihad will define which direction Pakistan is to head in,” Khan said. 
“This is our march for real freedom and it does not have any timeframe. We will take people along and reach Islamabad via GT Road.” 
The former premier said he wanted the people of Pakistan to decide who should rule the country. 
“We do not accept the ones [imposed] under a foreign conspiracy after compelling people to change loyalties by spending millions,” he added.