‘Our people had pistols’: Khan admits PTI workers had weapons in Azadi March

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan admitted that during the Azadi March, PTI protesters were carrying weapons with them. 

Khan’s comments came while speaking on 92 News‘ political talk show ‘Hard Talk’. The former premier said that had the march continued, the clashes between the protestors and the police would have led to anarchy in the country.

“There was already hatred among the people due to raids carried out by the Punjab Police on PTI lawmakers’ houses a day prior to the march. I was 100 per cent sure that the situation would lead to chaos after the protestors would have seen me,” said Khan.

میں نے دھرنا نہ کر کے اس ملک کو انتشار سے بچایا کیونکہ جو اس امپورٹڈ حکومت نے پرامن مظاہرین کیساتھ کیا اسکے نتیجے میں نفرت اور غصہ بہت بڑھ چکا تھا۔ چیئرمین عمران خان
#IKon92News pic.twitter.com/StYUfop8BX

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 30, 2022

“Our people had pistols on them too. I was afraid that the country will now face riots,” Khan told anchorperson Moeed Pirzada.

Khan further said that the decision to continue the march would have led to hatred against the police and the army and this would create further divisions in the country. He added that this hatred would have only benefitted the thieves who were now in power.

Khan also commented on police constable Kamal Ahmed who was shot dead during a raid of a PTI leader’s house in Lahore’s Model Town.

“We have never engaged in politics of provocation. The government blamed the PTI for the [martyred] constable’s death. Anyone would have thought that a thief has entered a house at 2am.”