Imran a slave of wishes, daydreaming to become PM: Rafique

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was a slave of his wishes and was daydreaming to become prime minister.

Talking to media persons here, Saad Rafique said that Imran wanted to become prime minster by hook or by crook. He contended that the person who wanted to lock down the federal capital could not be a well-wisher of the nation.

"In fact, Imran wanted to derail the democratic system by creating anarchy," the minister said, adding that the PTI chief had wasted precious time of the nation through his 126-day sit-in.

Meanwhile, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said Imran was himself burying the politics of Tehreek-e-Insaf.

PTI has given a call for a massive protest in Islamabad, in a final showdown aimed at forcing PM Nawaz to step down and present himself for accountability in the wake of Panama Papers disclosures.

The defiant PTI chief had initially planned to lock down the federal capital on October 30, but delayed for three days.

Speaking to media men outside his Bani Gala residence, Imran Khan said his party would begin to shut down Islamabad from the afternoon of November 2.

He claimed to have heard from several quarters the government was thinking of a crackdown, and said: “We are ready for whatever means the government takes.”

Khan maintained that it was his democratic right to protest peacefully, however, warned, “If the government will stay peaceful so will we.”

Intra-party elections

The ruling PML-N is also set to hold intra-party elections on ten party positions on Tuesday.

It is expected that some amendments will be made in the party constitution, party leader Khwaja Saad Rafique said on Monday.

He said that elections will be held in two phases for the party chairman, six vice chairmen, finance secretary and information secretary.