Imran called off Darna
18 December, 2014
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday decided to end their countrywide sit-in protests.
"Due to the situation in the country right now, we have decided to end our protests," PTI Chairman Imran Khan told party supporters in Islamabad.
The decision was made by the PTI core committee to end the four-month long sit-in protests.
Imran Khan said that the decision had been made in light of the terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar and said that the country needed national unity.
Tuesday's terrorist attack left 141 people dead, including 132 children.
"I have never seen an atrocity like this in my entire life...I cannot even comprehend how someone could kill children like this," he said.
"If someone killed my children like this, I would seek to avenge it as well," Imran said.
When speaking about attending the All Parties Conference (APC) headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Peshawar today, he said that it had to be done for the country's interest.
"I initially was hesitant to go to the meeting with Nawaz Sharif, but decided that it had to be done in the interest of the nation," Imran Khan said.
"During the past few months I have seen the people of Pakistan wake up and rise for their rights...We held historic protest rallies in Pakistan with record numbers of people attending," the PTI chairman said.
However, he said that the party would continue to fight for 'justice' and insisted that a judicial commission had to be constituted to investigate alleged rigging during the 2013 elections.
Imran Khan also said that if the judicial commission finds rigging to have taken place, then the prime minister would have to resign.
The PTI, along with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), had launched a campaign against the government of PM Nawaz Sharif in August, demanding that he resign over alleged rigging in last years polls.
Meanwhile, PTI workers expressed their disapproval of Imran Khan's announcement to end the protests.
Party workers refused to leave Islamabad’s D-Chowk, while some blocked the PTI chairman’s vehicle while it was leaving the protest site.
"I welcome Imran Khan's announcement of ending his 'Dharna'. This step will strengthen the war against terrorism," he said.
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