PTI Long March Day 3: Imran Khan responds to PM Shehbaz’s claims in speech at Muridke

PTI’s Long March rallies into day 3 on Sunday.

The PTI marchers after assembling continued the long march from Sheikhupura district’s Muridke, some 50km from where they started at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk and more than 250km away from their Islamabad destination.

March on day 3 will end at Gujranwala today.

And at quarter to four, PTI announced that its march is on the way to Sadhoke.

Sadhoke lies around 18 kilometers away from Muridke where the PTI rally was reported to be at that time.

Though the march call was at 11 am, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet at 1 PM said that the party has resumed its third day of the long march, adding that there will be around 1 million to 1.5 million people by the time they reach Islamabad on Friday.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan arrived at Muridke from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan responded to Shehbaz’s claims of seeking talks on the new army chief’s appointment, in Muridke as he addressed the marchers.

Imran Khan said that he does not talk to “boot polishers”.

“I spoke to those with whom Shehbaz hid in the trunk of the car to speak,” said Imran.

The former prime minister also questioned why he would send a message to the premier.

He said that he was not raised in a “military dictator’s nursery”.

“I do not call Ayub Khan daddy like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. I am not like Nawaz Sharif who build General Jilani’s home and pressed General Ziaul Haq’s knees to become a minister,” said Imran Khan

On the Indian media’s coverage of his attack on military officials, the PTI chief told the neighbouring country’s media that his party is standing with the army.

“I came to power with the people’s power not because of the establishment,” claimed Khan, adding that he only seeks rule of law in the country and the protection of the people’s rights.

Continuing his attack on the coalition government, the PTI chairman added that former dictator Pervez Musharraf harmed the country by giving an NRO to these parties.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan said: “I want the army to be strong. We need a strong army. My criticism is not [intended] to harm them. The Indian media is happy that I and the army are facing off.”

“We are with our military — but our criticism is constructive,” he added.