We will show Nawaz Sharif what real democracy is: Imran Khan

As the police detained more than 600 activists of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf in different parts of Punjab province, party chief Imran Khan on Saturday directed his workers to escape arrest and reach Islamabad on November 2 for a final showdown with the Nawaz Sharif government.

Cricketer-turned-politician Khan also advised party supporters to travel in groups and instead of taking the main route where the police is stationed they should opt for hidden routes to arrive at the site.

Earlier, the party had planned different rallies today in Islamabad and other parts of the country to motivate the people to reach Islamabad. A day after clashes between PTI workers and the police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the Punjab police have closed Peshawar-Islamabad motorway and Attock Bridge by placing containers to stop the PTI workers from reaching the capital on November 2 when Mr Khan and his supporters have a plan to lock down the city from the rest of the country. In Khyber Pakhtunkhawa where the PTI is in power the interior ministry has clarified that the federal government would treat the chief minister and other members of the provincial assembly as “ordinary citizens” if they dare to reach Islamabad.

Mr Khan has given to options to Prime Minister Sharif either to resign or present himself for accountability for having off-shore holdings revealed in the Panama Papers.

Mr Khan said, “We will show Nawaz Sharif what democracy is. Nawaz Sharif is a dictator.” Earlier, while challenging Islamabad high court’s orders the PTI chief asserted that, “It is my legal and constitutional right to hold a peaceful protest and I will exercise that right.”

He said that the Islamabad protest scheduled for November 2 will be held at any cost. “We will change the fate of Pakistan on November 2, and no one has the power to stop us,” he added. He further added that using force against peaceful protesters was unconstitutional. Warning the Punjab police to avoid confrontation with “peaceful protesters”, Mr Khan said: “The government has turned Punjab police into hooligans. I warn these officials to stay away from the protesters.”

“You already have the blood of Model Town victims on your hands, which you will be held accountable for,” Mr Khan said while referring to the Punjab police.

"It is time for Nawaz Sharif and his government to leave, who will save you then," he asked. The address came hours after IHC ordered authorities not to place any containers or block roads for PTI’s Islamabad lockdown on November 2.