Pakistan is heading towards an “imminent disaster” and may disintegrate, warns Imran Khan
Lahore:
Pakistan is headed for an “imminent disaster” and could face disintegration, former prime minister Imran Khan has warned as he accused the ruling coalition of plotting to pit the military against his party. .
In a video-link address from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Wednesday, the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief said holding elections was the only solution to end political instability.
“PDM leaders and Nawaz Sharif, who is missing in London, are least concerned whether the country’s constitution has been desecrated, state institutions destroyed or even the Pakistan Army discredited . They are only looking out for their vested interests of saving the looted money.” ,” They said.
Imran Khan said, “I am having a nightmare that the country is heading towards an imminent disaster. I appeal to those in power to allow elections to be held and save the country.”
Speaking about the unrest following his arrest from the Islamabad High Court complex on 9 May, Imran Khan insisted that it was a “pure conspiracy” allegedly hatched and orchestrated by the ruling coalition and the caretaker government of Punjab. was executed.
Dawn newspaper quoted him as saying, “It is high time that the powers that be should reconsider sensibly otherwise the country will face a situation like East Pakistan.”
Defending his criticism of the country’s military, Imran Khan said: “When I reprimand the military, it is as if I am criticizing my own children.”
“I have repeatedly said that I do not interfere in the internal affairs of state institutions. I did not interfere when I confirmed reports that former army chiefs were plotting against me,” he claimed. Said that some politicians were telling the current army chief that Imran Khan would de-notify him if he came to power.
Reacting strongly to the Punjab government’s claim that around 40 terrorists are holed up at his Zaman Park residence, Imran Khan said the government should legally search the house after obtaining a search warrant as the presence of terrorists His own life was also in danger. ,
“But don’t use this as an excuse to crack down on PTI, the country’s largest political party,” he said.
Imran Khan said that a recent survey showed that 70 percent of Pakistan’s population stood with his party PTI and the remaining 30 percent stood with all the parties that are part of the ruling coalition.
After his video-link address, Imran Khan allowed representatives of electronic and digital media to access his residence to see for themselves whether there were any terrorists inside Zaman Park.
Media persons who visited the house later reported that only domestic workers and a few policemen were inside the house.
Earlier in the day he had tweeted, “Probably my last tweet before my next arrest. Police have surrounded my house.”
He also posted some videos in which the police are shown taking positions outside his house.
The arrest of Imran Khan by the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers at the IHC compound on 9 May sparked unrest in Pakistan. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, protesters stormed the Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and set ablaze a corps commander’s house in Lahore.
Police put the death toll in the violent clashes at 10, while Imran Khan’s party claimed 40 of its workers were killed in firing by security personnel.
Top military officials on Monday resolved to bring the arsonists who attacked civilian and military installations to justice through trial under the country’s relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
Imran Khan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a vote of no confidence in his leadership, in which he accused the US-led government of targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan. Was part of the conspiracy.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)