ISLAMABAD: Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the minister of defense, stated on Tuesday that the federal government was not in a rush to detain Imran Khan and was instead focusing on exercising restraint. The defence minister claimed Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and a former prime minister, was desperately running from place to place. According to Khawaja Asif, Imran Khan was exposed in front of his supporters, and the general public now knows that he is a coward. He claimed that Imran Khan had a chicken’s heart and that courage cannot be purchased with money. He suggested Mian Nawaz Sharif be Khan’s role model for developing heart.
Imran Khan, according to the minister, has been staging a play over the past few days. “In the past 75 years of the nation’s history, no criminal has denied appearing in court. Particularly political leaders and activists who have made significant sacrifices to uphold and defend their ideology and politics, he continued. The biggest sacrifice, according to Khawaja Asif, was made by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and it was recognized by the judiciary. Justice Naseem Hassan Shah accepted Bhutto’s judicial murder, he added. He continued, “No political leader and even a common citizen had defied the courts ever. Mian Nawaz Sharif set the trend of respect for the courts and adoption of legal and constitutional ways out for justice.”
The Minister mentioned that Nawaz Sharif faced many court hearings along with his daughter and also got detained and disqualified.
But, he said Imran Khan was defying the courts and provoking his workers and followers to violently resist the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
Khawaja Asif said the government was handling this issue with restraint. The advocate of Imran Khan did not have legal documents prepared to appear before the courts, he added.
“This is not the behavior of politicians and political workers but of an opportunist. He started his politics after receiving the political patronage of General Musharraf. From Musharraf to Bajwa his politics is not without the support of the establishment,” he added.
“He used to praise General Bajwa during his tenure and now criticises him,” he alleged, adding, “What kind of people and breed they are? A politician should feel proud over his/her detention for his ideas and go to jail with pride for being victimized for his ideology,” the Defence Minister said.
Instead, he said they (PTI Leadership) started weeping on TV and some of them in courts. He has no regard for his own integrity, adding, “He is using a fake plaster, multiple fractures heal in this time period.”
Imran Khan’s political status was exposed after his dramas. “People have trust in Shaukat Khanam Memorial Hospital and he has not abstained from misappropriating its funds for using donations to fund PTI,” he added.
“He asks people to court arrests and gets bail himself. Leaders give courage to their followers by setting an example. Mian Nawaz Sharif, his family members, brother and nephews faced detentions. We have allegations and fight them with honor.”
Responding to media queries, he said Toshakahana Committee was formed and its new rules and regulations were underway as no one would be allowed to keep those gifts except perishable items. “You can keep chocolates if someone gives you.”
The federal government would keep those gifts as state property and would hold a periodical auction of those gifts whereas that amount would be deposited in the national treasury or donated to recognized welfare institutions, he said.
Earlier, the Defence Minister condemned the terrorist attack in Balochistan and said this trend started over the past few months which was alarming and regrettable.
He added that all the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) were fighting against terrorism as Pakistan Army, FC and others were rendering huge sacrifices.
“We went to Afghanistan and got a positive response in this regard. A delegation is also expected from Afghanistan and there will be some development on this issue to stop its soil use for terrorism,” he said.
