LAHORE: Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, stated on Thursday that he is “ready” to talk with the establishment.
In an interview, Imran said that all he wants is to hold elections in the country and for that, he is “ready to talk to anyone” and does not need crutches. “I was questioned about whether I would speak with the establishment if they wanted to. Imran said, “I said that I am a politician and will speak to everyone—except thieves. The former prime minister further clarified that he had not extended an invitation to speak to either Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif or Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.
In response to rumors that he wanted to speak with the army chief, he said, “I don’t need the establishment. A party that the nation’s citizens support does not require crutches. He responded, “It didn’t make any difference to us,” when asked if the change in military leadership had any impact on how the establishment felt about his party. “During General Bajwa’s administration, cases were brought against us. Seniors have never experienced as much abuse while in the care of others. The new chief was supposed to bring about a change, but the problems have only gotten worse,” said Imran.
He furthered that the Supreme Court has ordered elections to be held in 90 days and the president has announced the same. However, when the PTI held an election rally, there was a police crackdown, vehicles were broken, a water cannon was used and people were arrested.
The deposed premier said that the job of the caretaker government is to conduct elections. “How can elections be held without election campaigns and rallies?” he questioned.
On Wednesday, dozens of PTI supporters were arrested and injured while one was killed in a police crackdown on an election rally around Zaman Park in Lahore.
The police had used baton charge, shelling and a water cannon to disperse the rally while the PTI workers also pelted the police with stones. In this clash, several policemen were also injured
The PTI chief said that this type of violence is a tactic “to run away from the election” and urged party workers not be a part of any chaos “so that the government does not get a chance to run away from the election”.
“If we wanted, the fight would have continued till night, but we do not want to give them a chance to get out of the elections by creating chaos,” he said.
Imran said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the election dates on the order of the Supreme Court, but “it seems that the government does not want to hold the election”.
“All kinds of excuses are still being given as to why elections should not be held. I am afraid that they will kill a big personality like Benazir Bhutto. They are trying to somehow get out of the election,” he said.
When asked what would happen if the election does not take place, Imran asserted that this would be contempt of court as it would be a violation of the constitution and Supreme Court orders. “If elections aren’t held, the constitution and law will be destroyed,” he said.
He furthered that the government “wants me to be disqualified or go to jail so that it can win this election”.
Imran said that he had won the 2018 election because the nation had turned against the government parties. “Given the current inflation, these parties have been completely buried,” he said.
He said that “common sense says that all the elections should not be held together. This will also be better for the country. Let the people choose who they want. The government that will come will solve the country’s problems”.
Regarding Pervaiz Elahi’s appointment as PTI president, Imran said that he is the vice-chairman and number two leader of the party. “Pervaiz Elahi bore the pressure of the establishment and stayed with us in difficult times, so the position was given to him,” he said.
