UCA News
Contribute

Pakistan opposition leader calls for civil disobedience

Imran Khan moves to oust 'corrupt' PM Sharif
Pakistan opposition leader calls for civil disobedience

Supporters of opposition leader Imran Khan. File picture: Naiyyer/Shutterstock.com

Published: August 18, 2014 05:01 AM GMT
Updated: August 17, 2014 06:44 PM GMT

Pakistan’s main opposition leader Imran Khan launched a civil disobedience movement on Sunday to mount pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down.

“I am appealing to my supporters and fellow Pakistanis not to pay taxes, gas and electricity bills until the Nawaz Sharif government is dislodged,” Khan told thousands of anti-government protesters who have been staging a sit-in in the capital Islamabad since Friday.

“This is the only way to get rid of this corrupt and fake government,” Khan said. “There is no other legal way left to remove Nawaz Sharif, as he buys everyone.”

The cricketer-turned-politician gave Sharif 48 hours to resign. “If our demands are not met in two days, I will not be able to stop my workers from entering the Red Zone,” he threatened, referring to the area that contains Parliament House, the Prime Minister’s house and other key state buildings.

“We don’t want to spread anarchy [so we] appeal to Sharif to stand down.”

Khan’s address came a day after Tahirul Qadri, a Canada-based moderate cleric, issued a similar 48-hour ultimatum, set to expire on Monday.

Like Khan, Qadri led tens of thousands of his supporters and religious followers from the eastern city of Lahore to Islamabad.

Qadri argues that the present system of governance is rotten. “No change is possible in Pakistan without bringing about a peaceful, democratic and green revolution,” Qadri told his supporters.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali announced on Sunday that the government would open talks with Khan and Qadri to end the standoff on Monday.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided to constitute two separate committees to meet Khan and Qadri and listen to their demands,” Ali said. He, however, ruled out the resignation of the prime minister.

Analysts have warned that the military may have to intervene if the impasse persists.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia