PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan will hold a telethon on Sunday to raise funds for Pakistan’s flood relief efforts. Thirty million people have been affected and hundreds have been killed, as the government declared a national emergency, after heavy rains triggered historic flooding in the country.
Imran Khan, currently Pakistan’s most popular political leader, will hold a telethon to raise funds for flood relief. PTI leader and former Federal Minister Asad Umar announced the telethon on Twitter.
Read more: Pakistan declares emergency as floods swallowed 34 more lives
“Tomorrow Imran Khan will be holding a telethon to raise funds for flood relief efforts. Details will be announced later today,” Asad Umar tweeted.
Tomorrow @ImranKhanPTI will be holding a telethon to raise funds for flood relief efforts. Details will be announced later today
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 27, 2022
Similarly, Senator Faisal Javed Khan, while confirming the news, urged the public to participate in the event.
“Tomorrow Imran Khan will hold a mega telethon for the flood victims, InshAllah – We all should step up and participate in this service – I pray to Allah Almighty to keep us safe – Ameen,” Faisal Javed Khan said.
انشاء اللہ کل عمران خان سیلاب زدگان کے لئے ایک میگا ٹیلی تھان کا انعقاد کریں گے – ہم سبکو بڑھ چڑھ کے اس خدمت خلق میں حصہ لینا چاہیے – اللّٰہ تعالیٰ سے دعا کہ سبکو اپنے حفظ و امان میں رکھے – آمین #FloodsInPakistan
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) August 27, 2022
According to the details, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also decided to utilize his upcoming rallies to mobilize the nation to help flood victims. Moreover, Dr. Sania Nishtar former SAPM on Poverty Alleviation will head a committee that will distribute the funds collected by Imran Khan. Funds will be spent on flood victims in all provinces.
چئیرمین تحریک انصاف کا بڑا فیصلہ
جلسوں کو سیلاب متاثرین کی مدد کےلیے لوگوں کو موبلائز کرنےکےلیے استعمال کیا جائےگا
صوبائی سطح پر ڈاکٹر ثانیہ نشتر کےنیچے فلڈ ریلیف فنڈز قائم ہوں گے
فنڈز تمام صوبوں میں سیلاب متاثرین پر خرچ کیےجائیں گے
کل اس حوالےسے ٹیلی تھون کا بھی انعقاد ہو گا
— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) August 27, 2022
PTI faces backlash
Interestingly, the announcement comes as PTI came under fire for moving ahead with its Jhelum jalsa scheduled for today.
Journalists, politicians, and other people took to Twitter to denounce the move, stressing that in light of the catastrophic floods in the country, the party should have called it off.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari — also the Minister for Foreign Affairs — said that the opposition can “play jalsa jalsa” if they choose to, but the party and the Sindh government will prioritize relief efforts.
“If they want to play jalsa jalsa, they may, and they can continue to demand elections. Our priority right now is to share in the grief of the monsoon affected,” Bilawal said.
On the other hand, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry defended the rally, saying it is being staged for “real independence”.
Read more: Why PTI refuses to suspend its political activities despite floods