To muster enough financial resources for its planned lockdown of the federal capital on November 2, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has set a target of collecting Rs500 million for which it will launch an online fund-raising campaign.This will be the first time in the country’s history that a political party will introduce an online fundraising mechanism [to pool resources for political purposes] on the pattern of the US presidential election campaigns.Unlike the 126-day long dharna staged in 2014, this time around the PTI has decided to not solely rely on party funds and plans to launch a massive public fundraising campaign for its protest movement.The party had already released a video showing Imran Khan requesting party workers to contribute at least Rs100 each towards the party’s efforts for a successful sit-in.Such decisions have been taken due to some obvious reasons.It was the start of December 2014 when the PTI’s sit-in organisers committee reported to the party’s central finance wing that its fund accounts had almost gone dry, reporting that already a whopping Rs301 million had been spent on the exercise -- a figure PTI central finance secretary Sardar Azhar Tariq rejected while talking to The Express Tribune.However, an office-bearer of the party’s finance wing added that financially the party was exhausted during the last days of the 2014 sit-ins.“Khan Sahib was informed about these details and the financial difficulties the party had faced in 2014. It led to the decision of requesting people to contribute in a bid to ensure maximum funding to avoid any such situation,” the leader said.When contacted PTI central finance secretary Sardar Azhar Tariq did not give any figure about the PTI’s target in terms of funds. Tariq said meetings were in progress about fundraising strategies.“Certainly a handsome amount will be incurred to arrange and manage a gathering of several thousand people in Islamabad. For the purpose, Imran Khan has requested the public to come forward and contribute.”Responding to a question about Rs 301 million expenditures incurred on the 2014 sit-in, Tariq said the figure was incorrect as it included Rs57 million bill generated by DJ Butt, which was not paid to him [as it was calculated on mere assumptions rather than fair calculation].Imran Khan on Friday described the November 2 lockdown of the federal capital as a ‘jihad’ and urged party supporters to enthusiastically participate in it to overthrow the rule of corrupt.He was addressing a gathering at Matani that was also addressed by CM Pervaiz Khattak and others. Despite being arranged on a short notice, it attracted a huge crowd.“The faith of the country will be decided on November 2,” Imran told the gathering. “Nawaz Sharif is the king of corruption, and when a country has a corrupt head, your whole system will be based on corruption and injustice.”He used several references from the Islamic teachings to lure people to his planned march on Islamabad.Imran also criticised Asif Ali Zardari, Altaf Hussain, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asfandyar Wali, accusing them of looting the country.Published in The Express Tribune, October 22, 2016.