Aug 14 protests: The march will go on, come what may

Despite last minute appeals for dialogue from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek are determined to march to the capital - come what may. Many parts of Lahore and Islamabad have been blocked off with containers; sensitive areas are expected to be without cellular services for the duration of the marches; there is real fear that there will be blood as the protests advance. Despite the Lahore High Court's order that maintained that the PTI and PAT's marches should not proceed, the parties' leaders said they would not be deterred. Below is a round-up of the day’s political happenings and statements on the even of August 14.

PTI chief Imran Khan said that his party will bring true democracy to Pakistan. "We want to rid Pakistan of the Sharif monarchy," he said. The PTI chief said that whenever the government breaks the law his party will break the government. "We will demand that the PM that was involved in rigging should resign," Imran Khan said.
LHC stops PTI from proceeding with long march by dawn-news

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said that August 14 will be the day of his 'revolution march' come what may. He said that protests will be held in a peaceful manner. "We have been the upholders of peace, so there is no possibility that the march will be violent," Qadri said. "There is no possibility that our conduct will be one of violence... We have been the strongest opponents of violence and militancy," he said.

"I am guaranteeing that there will no martial law. Imran Khan is going to guarantee this. Every worker of PTI is responsible – if martial law is imposed we will sacrifice our lives," Javed Hashmi said in a press conference. ******************************************

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the government would not create any hindrance in way of the political process. Addressing a press conference Nisar said that maintenance of law and order and security is the responsibility of the state. He added that certain elements were not only threatening the government but the society as well.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif telephoned Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq and told him that the federal government was ready to allow the PTI’s ‘Azadi march,’ upon his (Haq’s) request. — Rana Fawad reported from Lahore

The Lahore High Court will announce its decision over the petition filed against the ‘Azadi March’ announced by PTI at 8pm today. Earlier, the court had reserved its decision and said that a short-order over the petition filed by a citizen against the PTI’s Azadi March would be announced at 3pm and later at 6pm.

PTI’s central information secretary Shireen Mazari said that there are no differences within the party. "Javed Hashmi has supported and been involved in all decisions taken by the party in relation to the Azadi March,” she said “He (Hashmi) along with Shah Mehmood had organised various functions in relation to the Azadi March recently.” The PTI spokesperson added, “Misunderstandings do occur within families but I don’t see any reason for Javed Hashmi to have any difference with the party.” Earlier, PTI leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi appeared before media personnel and denied reports that he was not in contact with the party. He said that consultations were underway and an announcement in this regard would be made soon.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday appealed to the government to remove all barriers blocking Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) 'Azadi' march. In a message addressing the prime minister, the federal cabinet and the chief minister Punjab, he said that containers, trucks and all other barriers placed across Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi should be removed immediately. He said the situation demands that the matters should be resolved through consensus and dialogue. "The people cannot be stripped of their constitutional, legal, political and democratic right," he said.

A motorcyclist ducks to go under a shipping container placed by security forces to stop protesters from entering the capital, Islamabad, as he drives on a street in Lahore on Wednesday — AP Photo